Competition draws young maestros

The annual Music Maestro competition, organised by the music department at Somerset College, attracted a record number of entries this year. This competition is open to all jazz and classical musicians (vocal and instrumental) in Grade 8 to Grade 12, who live in the Helderberg and Boland region. In the initial round, musicians are required to perform two pieces from different time/style periods. Four students were selected from this round to perform in the final concert, where the two adjudicators, Alet de Vos and Felicia Lesch, selected two winners from each category and each age group (junior and senior). The winners received prize money sponsored by Somerset College. Pictured, from left, are Estelle Kemp (cello) from Stellenbosch High School, first prize – senior classical section; Gerhard Joubert (piano) from Stellenbosch High School, first prize – junior classical section; Mia van der Merwe (voice) from Parel Vallei High School, second prize – junior classical section; Celeste Opperman (voice) from Rhenish Girls’ High School, second prize – senior classical section; Dara Steingaszner (voice) from Parel Vallei High School, second prize – senior jazz section; and Michael Burke (saxophone) from Somerset College, first prize – senior jazz section.