Young performers hit all the right notes

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GEORGE NEWS - Junior winner Charlotte-Anne Ahlström (12) and Phoebe le Roux (11, runner-up), as well as senior winner Meya Cordewener (17) and Sefas Rademan (17, runner-up), were among the standout performers honoured at the gala concert of the 41st Young Musicians Competition.

This event was hosted by the George Music Society at the George Arts Theatre last Friday, 5 June.

The evening celebrated excellence across a range of categories, including vocal, piano, percussion, string, woodwind and brass performances, as well as ensemble entries.

PHOTO GALLERY - 41st Young Musicians Competition crowns winners

Special awards were presented to Sefas for best blues performance, Hennie Venter (15) for best original notated composition, Cuemi Tsai (15) as most versatile participant, Gracie Ntoni (16, best senior pianist) and Meya for music excellence.

Koos Greyling, chairperson of the George Music Society, and junior winner Charlotte-Anne Ahlström.

"It is at an event like this that we experience how this richness is cultivated and nurtured," said Gerrit Jordaan, vice chairperson of the George Music Society.

"Present in the audience were a number of previous prize winners of this prestigious competition, now established musicians in their own right. The participants came from as far as Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. It was also inspiring to hear several siblings performing together."

The senior runner-up, Sefas Rademan.

While contemporary music dominated the programme, several participants also tackled works from the classical repertoire with confidence and maturity. The adjudicators, Mel Botes and John Theodore, praised the high standard of performances.

Phoebe le Roux, the junior runner-up.

The remaining list of category winners include Lila Gerber (9), Mishke van Niekerk (16), Amy Bernardo (16), the Holy Cross vocal ensemble, Neal Oh Kwang Ming Burger (12), Ingrid Keyser (11), Caleb Dickson (16), Heleen van Tonder (9), Andrew Brink (14), the Holy Cross instrumental ensemble, Anjené (13) and Eben Oberholzer (10), Jake (15) and Sam Pheiffer (12), the Top Tones Junior ensemble, and Hoërskool Outeniqua's vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Jordaan thanked Sandra Tilbrook, the George Music Society and a dedicated team of helpers, for organising the event and providing a platform for young musicians to develop and showcase their talents. - Compiled by Michelle Pienaar

The junior winner, Charlotte-Anne Ahlström.