Publications
Partners
Kerwin Petrus (23) of Kuils River is one of five finalists who will compete for the Alexander SA Composer’s Award in a concert on Saturday 9 March at 19:00 at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow.
Competition convenor, Dr Antoni Schonken, said works were submitted by August last year and were judged anonymously.
The other finalists selected out of 32 entries are Lize Briel (23) and Owen Dalton (25), both from Stellenbosch, Micaela Loubser (24) from Gansbaai and Chesney Palmer (27) of Johannesburg.
The competing works are: “Suite for Orchestra” (Petrus), “Echoes: A Minimalist Dialogue” (Briel), “Century Machines” (Dalton), “Unravelling” (Loubser), and “Colour Sketches (Palmer)”.
The winner will take home R50 000 and enjoy a one-year appointment as Resident Composer of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO). This includes a performance of the winning composition in a CPO concert, and one new commission, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to Hamburg, Germany, later this year, where the winning work will be performed by the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie.
The second prize is R10 000 with at least one public performance of the composition, and the third prize is R5 000 with at least one public performance.
Diversity
Hendrik Hofmeyr, non-voting chair of the judging panel, said the number and diversity of the entries is not only an indication of the compositional talent in the country but also of the success of this CPO initiative to stimulate interest in orchestral compositions.
The initiative is sponsored by German philanthropist Alexander Valentin, who said he is delighted to see the five works selected are by young composers between the ages of 23 and 28 who represent the diversity of South Africa.
Schonken said it is exciting and heartening to see the landscape of composition locally grow in diversity, quality, and originality. “No doubt CPO’s support for emerging artists has played a vital role in making orchestral composition accessible to young composers.”
Valentin will join the judging panel which comprises composers Amy Crankshaw, Arthur Feder, Lise Morrison, Clare Loveday, and the CPO’s principal guest conductor Bernhard Gueller.
“Load and Shed,” a new work commissioned by last year’s winner Conrad Asman, will be performed in the concert while the judges are deliberating.
Another new work by German-based Chinese composer Yixie Shen will also be performed as part of the collaboration Valentin has forged between the CPO and the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie, which has sent four students to play in the CPO during this period. Four CPO students were sent by Valentin to attend the JNP’s summer camp last August.
Tickets for the concert cost R150.
Book at Webtickets.
