The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) held their High Scorers’ Concert for the Eastern Cape, George and surrounding areas on Sunday 5 March 2023 in Gqeberha at the Collegiate Junior School for Girls.
The ABRSM was founded in 1889 when two of the UK’s leading music institutions, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, joined forces to form one examining body that would create an impartial benchmark for music students.
Three years later, in 1892, the first ABRSM exams outside of the UK were conducted at the then University of the Cape of Good Hope in Cape Town. Today, the ABRSM conducts these exams in more than 90 countries.
The aim of the ABRSM is to encourage more people to participate in music, and the High Scorers’ Concert offers an opportunity for musicians to perform in public. Only those who had achieved 80% or higher for their exams were invited to participate.
Bridget Harrison
Bridget Harrison, the regional coordinator for ABRSM KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Lesotho, organised the event. In the programme notes, she said:
Today we will be listening to performances from a number of highly talented musicians who epitomise the quality of musicianship associated with the achievement of our assessments. However, these concerts are firstly a tribute to your hard work as performers and the support and guidance you receive from your teachers and parents.
Performers from Gqeberha, East London, Queenstown, George, Plettenberg Bay and even Ladismith took part.
Harrison said of these students: “We certainly have an abundance of musical talent and dynamic teachers who are making a positive contribution to South African music.”
Garreth Robertson, an accompanist from Rhodes University, “could do with a special mention” according to Harrison. While many of the performers based in Gqeberha or surrounds had their own accompanists to back them, Robertson stepped in for those from Ladismith, Plettenberg Bay and Queenstown.
Harrison said: “He was able to put performers at ease and, despite only a short rehearsal before the concert, gave them the confidence and support they needed.”
David Bester
After the high scorers performed their pieces, the audience was treated to a professional performance by two award-winning guest artists, David Bester on violin and Rudi Bower on guitar. Bower and Bester, who had listened to each high scorer perform, also chatted to the younger performers, giving tips and encouragement. Both artists teach at the Nelson Mandela University.
Rudi Bower
The following musicians performed at the event. Please note that the grade mentioned below is their music grade; it does not correlate with the level of education in the South African school system.
Hayley van der Riet
- Gqeberha, Collegiate Junior School
- Performed the “Wallace and Gromit theme” by Julian Nott
- Grade 1, Bass clarinet
- Teacher: Amanda du Plessis
- Accompanist: Cindy Atkinson
Emma Maston
- Gqeberha, Collegiate Junior School
- Performed “The swing” by Chee Hwa-Tan
- Grade 1, Piano
- Teacher: Michelle Mattheus
Alexa Coetzee
- Gqeberha, Sunridge Primary School
- Performed “Catwalk” by Pam Wedgwood
- Grade 2, Flute
- Teacher: Leanne Tobias
- Accompanist: Susan Pretorius
Greer Olivera
- Gqeberha, Herbert Hurd 2022, Collegiate Girls High 2023
- Performed “Allegro” by Thomas Attwood
- Grade 2, Piano
- Teacher: Hayley Uithaler
Rowan Kieck
- East London, Selborne Primary
- Performed “Theme from ‘Berceuse’” by Gabriel Fauré, arranged by David Blackwell
- Grade 2, Flute
- Teacher: Lana Hart
- Accompanist: Lana Hart
Caleb Lodge
- Gqeberha, Home-schooled
- Performed “Angelfish” by Anne Crosby Gaudet
- Grade 2, Piano
- Teacher: Joshua Bussy
Gabriel Pierce
- East London, Selborne Primary
- Performed “Flying high” by Alan Haughton
- Grade 2, Alto saxophone
- Teacher: Lana Hart
- Accompanist: Lana Hart
Nangamso Ncobo
- Queenstown, Queen’s College Boys’ High School
- Performed “Sicilienne” by Lucy Pankhurst
- Grade 3, Trumpet
- Teacher: Sandor Maart
- Accompanist: Garreth Robertson
Erin Brinkman
- Gqeberha, St Dominic’s Priory School
- Performed “Scary stuff” by Sarah Watts
- Grade 3, Piano
- Teacher: Jarryd Pow Chong
Jessica Eaton
- Gqeberha, Collegiate Junior School
- Performed “Tango” by Fielding
- Grade 4, Alto saxophone
- Teacher: Michelle Mattheus
- Accompanist: Danel Mecloen
Sarah Kruger
- Gqeberha, Collegiate Junior School
- Performed “Riguadon” by Boismortier
- Grade 4, Trombone
- Teacher: Justin Horn
- Accompanist: Cindy Atkinson
Isabella Schnetler
- Plettenberg Bay, Wittedrift High School
- Performed “Sunrise, sunset” by Bock & Harnick and “La vie en rose” by Louiguy, Piaf & Mack David
- Grade 5, Singing
- Teacher: Martinet Nel
- Accompanist: Garreth Robertson
Tae Young Lee
- Gqeberha, St Dominic’s Priory School
- Performed “Sonata in D” by Scarlatti
- Grade 8, Piano
- Teacher: Jarryd Pow Chong
Catherine Tuffin
- Ladismith, Home-schooled
- Performed “Linden Lea” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and “Where the bee sucks” by Thomas Augustine Arne
- Grade 5, Singing
- Teacher: Retha van Zyl and Carinda van den Berg
- Accompanist: Garreth Robertson
Kristin Swart
- George, Outeniqua High School
- Performed “Jingo” by Christopher Norton and “Air” by Helen Hopekirk
- Grade 8, Piano
- Teacher: Anne-Marie Buchholtz
See also:
Press Release: ABRSM High Scorers’ Concert for the Eastern Cape, George and surrounding areas