Cape Town - After an exciting fifth SA Conductors’ Competition final, presented by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hugo Lamprechts Music Centre on Sunday, the prestigious title was awarded to Stellenbosch student Jacobus de Jager.
The runners up were Jason Atherton and Reghardt Kühn.
De Jager’s prize includes the chance to study with Maestro Arjan Tien in The Netherlands. Tien, who chaired the panel of jurors at the competition, gave master classes to all the candidates in October last year, and a second round of master classes to the six semi-finalists in the days before the finals.
In the concert, De Jager conducted the CPO in the overture to “The Magic Flute” and, with soloist Lance Thuysnma, the 1st movement of the “Clarinet Concerto”, both by Mozart. Atherton conducted the overture to Beethoven’s “Coriolan” and, with soloist Isaac van der Merwe, the 1st movement of the “Piano Concerto no 20” by Mozart. Kühn conducted the overture to “Der Freischutz” by Weber and, with soloist Samantha Durrant, the first movement of Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto”.
CPO chief executive and artistic director Louis Heyneman said the competition is an important investment in the future of music.
“We have such an abundance of musical talent in South Africa, but gaining experience in front of a professional symphony orchestra is difficult and expensive. Our contribution towards developing local conductors have been an important addition to transferring skills to young musicians. In spite of so many financial obstacles in the way the CPO will continue to build on our reputation as pioneers on several levels,” Heyneman said.
The medals were presented by Louis van Zyl, son of the indisposed competition founder, Len van Zyl.
Judges were Tien, conductor Richard Cock, the CPO’s principal guest conductor Bernhard Gueller, third Len van Zyl Conductors’ Competition winner Chad Hendricks, Heyneman and inaugural winner of the competition in 2010, Brandon Phillips.
The fourth winner, Schalk van der Merwe, conducted the CPO in the overture to “Die Fledermaus” while the jurors were in discussion.
Watch the concert via: https://youtu.be/b_H-c-hnGDk