South African Composers’ Competition finalists announced

The finals, which will be conducted by local pianist and composer Jeremy Silver, will take place at the Hugo Lambrechts’ Music Centre in Parow on 15 March. They are Owen Dalton (Ramblings of the Mind), Anthonie Jansen van Rensburg (People, Space, Time), Chesney Palmer (Spectrums of Hues and Obscure Shapes), Caryn Jessica Pretorius (The Watcher of the South) and Hein Roelofse (Sunset Hues).

A new composition titled Tessellations, written by last year’s winner, Lize Briel, will also be performed. The finals will be judged by composers Pieter Bezuidenhout, Amy Crankshaw, Arthur Feder, Clare Loveday, and Lise Morrison, with Hendrik Hofmeyr serving as the non-voting chairman and Antoni Schonken as the panel convenor.

“This year’s competition highlights a particularly exciting trend: young composers are showing a growing interest in writing for orchestra,” Schonken said. “What stands out even more is the stronger focus on exploring local South African styles and techniques in their work. This is a promising sign for the future of composition in South Africa, as it reflects both innovation and a deep engagement with our unique musical heritage.”

Tickets to the event will be announced shortly.