Accompanists – US Music

Elna van der Merwe

By US MusicAccompanists

elna@topshell.co.za

Elna van der Merwe was a fulltime accompanist and part-time piano lecturer at the Conservatory of the University of Stellenbosch until 2001. Since then she is an ad hoc pianist and sought- after collaborative artist for local as well as international artists such as Michell Breedt (mezzo soprano), Douglas Masek (Saxophonist), Maria Kliegel (cellist), Susan Milan (flautist).

Ms van der Merwe studied piano and organ at the University of Stellenbosch , she won several awards, stipendiums and competitions. She performed as soloist with various national orchestras.

Local instrumentalists and singers with whom she regularly performs are Zanta Hofmeyr, Zanne Stabelberg, the South African Sopranos, Niel Rademan, Maria du Toit, Liesl Stolz, Peter Martens, Suzanne Martens. In May 2011 she performed as collaborative pianist with Zanta Hofmeyr in Malta. She also accompanied the Libertas choir on their tours to Belgium and the USA.

She has been awarded by Samro in gratitude and recognition for excellent service in accompaniment in the Overseas Scholarship Competitions. As accompanist she has appeared in all the Unisa International singing-, strings- (since 1990) and recently the flute and clarinet competitions.

As multi talented pianist she has played in two piano arrangements with Zorada Temmingh as part of the Blondes in all the major festivals in South Africa. In 2011 The Blondes performed in Israel and London.

She has recorded many Cd’s and Dvd’s with different artists and served on several music competition panels as adjudicator.

October 28, 2016

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Philippus Hugo

By US MusicAccompanists

Philippus Hugo obtained the degrees BMus, BMus (Hons) and MMus (cum laude) in piano at Stellenbosch University under Juliana de Villiers. He made his solo debut with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) at the age of sixteen and performed several times with the CPO, Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Stellenbosch University Symphony Orchestra during his student years.

In 1992 he was appointed as an official accompanist at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre. After 5 years he accepted a position as a music teacher at Rustenburg Primary School and in 2001 he was appointed as accompanist at Stellenbosch University, where he is still employed.

He has been one of the official accompanists at the ABSA National Competition for high school learners since 1994 and appears regularly as accompanist at the Sanlam Primary School Competition, ATKV Musique, Artscape Competition and Unisa Overseas Scholarship Competition, as well as freelance accompanist at several national festivals like Klein Karoo Klassique (KKK), Darling Voorkamerfees, Die Vryfees, Fynarts Hermanus Festival and Greyton Genadendal Classics For All. From 2012 until 2015 he served as official accompanist for the ATKV Muziqanto competition.

In 2011 he was asked to perform at the Maputo International Music Festival with the American singers Kennethia Mitchell and Lawrence Craig Jr. He was also invited to participate in the Harare Music Festival that took place in Zimbabwe in September 2012. Philippus returned to Maputo in May 2014 as guest artist during their classical music season, where he was responsible for accompanying singers and instrumentalists. For the 2016 Maputo International Music Festival he acted as compiler and accompanist of two opera performances with local singers and the Maputo Youth Choir.

Since 2013, he was appointed by the ATKV as program compiler and coordinator of the concerts during which the respective winners of Muzique and Muziqanto have to perform as part of their winning status. These include the Gala Concert as part of the Greyton Genadendal Classics for All, 2014 and 2016 US Woordfees, Oude Libertas Concert Series, Nederburg and La Motte’s concert series, and the soirées during the Sandton Summerplace Concert Series. He was also responsible for the compilation and accompaniment of the 2013 to 2015 KKK opening concerts. Philippus, with Minette du Toit-Pearce and the US Percussion Duo, was nominated for a KykNet Fiesta for best classical concert during a national arts festival for the 2013 KKK opening concert.

Philippus was approached by Unisa to act as examiner. He was appointed as adjudicator at the George Loerie Eisteddfod in 2014 and 2016, as well as the Riversdale and Tygerberg eisteddfods. In 2016 he acted as adjudicator of the piano section at the Stellenbosch Eisteddfod. He is also an accomplished chef and co-owner of the restaurant Driefontein and 254 Catering in Caledon in the Overberg.

October 27, 2016

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Erik Dippenaar

By US MusicAccompanists

Erik Dippenaar

erikdip@gmail.com

In 2003 Erik Dippenaar obtained the degree BMus (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, and was awarded a MMus (with distinction) by the Royal College of Music in London in 2007. The following year he completed an Artist Diploma in Performance at the Royal College under Jane Chapman (harpsichord) and Geoffrey Govier (fortepiano).

As a student in South Africa, Erik won most of the important music competitions, including the ABSA National Youth Music Competition (2000), UNISA National Organ Competition (2001), Mabel Quick Bursary Competition (2001), ATKV Musiq Competition (2002), the organ category of Distell Music Competition (2002) and the Unisa Overseas Bursary competition (2003).

From 2005 to 2011 Erik was based in London, where he played in various important early music festivals such as the Greenwich Early Music Festival, the London Handel Festival, the Brighton Early Music Festival and the Trigonale Festival der Alten Musik. His primary activity is chamber music and he has performed regularly with Florilegium, The London Handel Players, l’Avventura London, Amaranthos and Spirituoso. Erik’s work for Florilegium has led to collaborations with singers such as dame Emma Kirkby, Robin Blaze, Johanette Zomer and Gillian Keith. He also worked with the English Touring Opera, the Little Baroque Company and Ensemble Serse on a regular basis.

While in Londen, Erik gave regular solo recitals, which included a recital for the British Harpsichord Society, as well as regular broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. In 2010 he made his debut in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Erik was one of the official accompanists for the annual London Handel Singing Competition, and in March 2008 he was awarded the competition’s Accompanist’s Prize. He won the RCM Early Music Competition twice, and was a member of the group Musici Infaticabili, who won the Broadwood Early Keyboard Ensemble Competition in Fenton House in May 2008. During 2008/2009 Erik was appointed as Mills/Williams Junior Fellow at the RCM, and he taught harpsichord at the Centre for Young Musicians in London.

Erik is currently Artistic Director of the Cape Town-based baroque orchestra Camerata Tinta Barocca, a member of the period ensemble The Cape Consort and a part-time lecturer in music history and historical performance practice at the University of Cape Town. He is now studying towards a PhD in music at UCT, focussing on the role historical domestic keyboard instruments played in the colonisation process in Southern Africa. He has recently been awarded a Research Associateship by the University of Cape Town.

September 7, 2016

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