Young Samuel a piano maestro
Twelve-year-old Namibian pianist Samuel Nel from Walvis Bay performed exceptionally at the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition in South Africa.Finishing fifth amongst just eight participants selected for the final round of the competition, the top three spots went to Weiru Yan (KwaZulu-Natal), Eléna Monvoisin (Western Cape) and Ziné Mostert (Gauteng). This came after three strenuous rounds of elimination that took place in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow, Cape Town, for this prestigious competition.
The talented young musicians were carried by the support of an appreciative capacity audience, who for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19, had the privilege of listening to and watching the best of the best in person.
Like most art forms locally and internationally, the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition faced its share of trouble during the worldwide pandemic. The 2020 competition had to be cancelled, while the 2021 event took place without an audience, with only the participants and their families, teachers and other role-players in attendance.
The gala event was live-streamed from the competition’s YouTube channel and was enjoyed by local and international supporters.
For taking the first spot, 13-year-old pianist Weiru walked away with a total of N$28 200 in cash along with a gold medal and an invitation to perform as a soloist at the Hugo Lambrechts Concerto Festival in 2023.
Weiru is a learner at the Ashton International College in Ballito, where she studies with a music scholarship. In addition to the Johanna van der Spuy first prize of N$15 000, she also won prizes for the best performance of a Baroque work in the first round; the best performance of a Classical work in the second round; the best performance of a South African composition; and the first prize in the Piano Category.
Weiru started playing the piano five years ago and for the past four years has been taught by Liezel-Maret Livingstone. Weiru’s achievement is even more remarkable because, since the pandemic, she has been receiving online lessons only and hasn’t seen her teacher in person for three years. Livingstone now lives in Ireland and on Friday night watched the concert online.
Samuel, along with the other qualifiers in the final round, each won prizes to the value of N$2 200
Thirty-four young musicians were selected for participation in the four qualifying rounds. The competition is divided into four categories, namely Piano; Strings; Woodwind; and Brass and Other Instruments (Classical Guitar, Recorder and Percussion).