Yamaha Young Soloist Music Competition revolutionises the SA music scene
Gerrit Bester
In a groundbreaking move that has set a new standard for music competitions in South Africa, Dr Roland Moses, a renowned jazz pianist and lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Performing Arts (Faculty of Arts and Design), has spearheaded the Yamaha Young Soloist Music Competition, a competition like no other.
Unlike traditional music competitions that often focus on a single instrument, the Yamaha Young Soloist Music Competition challenged young classical and jazz musicians to showcase their talents on a variety of instruments, including acoustic and digital pianos, brass and woodwind instruments.
As Artistic Director for the competition, Moses, who is a Yamaha artist deeply involved in community outreach, brought a fresh perspective to the competition, emphasising inclusivity and talent over conventional norms.
Structured into three rounds – an online preliminary round, an in-person live semi-final round in various provinces and a final live round at the prestigious World of Yamaha in Johannesburg – the competition attracted 300 participants from across South Africa, each vying for the top prizes in their respective categories.
With categories spanning different age groups, from junior to senior, the competition offered a platform for young musicians to shine and receive valuable feedback through Dr Moses' meticulously designed assessment rubric.
Prizes worth R15 000, R10 000 and R5 000 were awarded to the top performers in both the classical and jazz categories, showcasing the competition's commitment to recognising and rewarding exceptional talent.
Notably, the competition's ethos of inclusivity allowed even those who couldn't read music to compete and excel, breaking barriers and celebrating raw musical talent.
The prestigious panel of adjudicators (300 throughout the country), including esteemed figures like Prof Nina Schumann and Khaya Mahlangu, ensured that the competition maintained the highest standards of musical excellence.
The final showdown at the World of Yamaha in Sandton on June 7 and 8 saw TUT students, Ofentse Sebula (woodwind-saxophone) and Lungile Luswazi (piano), clinching the first and second spots in the Jazz category, respectively, further solidifying the competition's impact on nurturing young talent.
Moses expressed his pride in the competition's success and its role in providing a platform for aspiring musicians to showcase their skills. “With universities, school music departments and music institutions’ students, staff and alumni actively involved in various capacities, the competition not only showcased talent but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration within the music industry,” he said.
“The Yamaha Young Soloist Music Competition has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the South African music scene, ushering in a new era of inclusivity, talent recognition and artistic excellence.”
Pretoria News