Young SA singers claim SAMRO honours

Keorapetse, a Tshwane University of Technology and University of Kwa-Zulu Natal graduate, triumphed in the Jazz category while North West University graduate Malieloa emerged the winner in the Western Art Music category. Keorapetse and Malieloa received R200 000 ($13 000) to further their studies abroad and had their names added to the SAMRO Foundation’s roll of honour, joining fellow scholarships alumni from as far back as 1962. Malieloa was also awarded the SAMRO/NOASA Award of R20 000 – a bequest by the National Opera Association of South Africa.

Keorapetse will use the money to pursue a masters in jazz performance either in New York or at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. Malieloa will use the prize money to complete her master of erformance studies at the University of Music and Dance in Cologne, Germany.

The runners-up, Daniëlla Hart and Thembinkosi Magagula, in the Jazz and Western Art Music categories respectively, received R70 000 each. Hart was also awarded the SAMRO/De Waal Award of R15 000, a bequest made by late songwriter Anton de Waal. Magagula also received the SAMRO/NOASA Award of R20 000.

“To my friends, family, lecturers, fellow students and appreciators, reading each message of encouragement, hearing every affirmation and prayer during the course of the week and seeing you in the audience on the performance day gave me so much strength and courage to pick myself up at every turn,” Kolwane wrote on Facebook. “You were there through the journey and I appreciate it so much.”

In addition to the two overseas scholarships, a number of merit and subsidiary awards were handed out to outstanding finalists and semi-finalists. Liso Gcwabe and Goitsemang Lehobye won R45 000 each through the new SAMRO/Doreen Nteta Indigenous African Music Award for their interpretations of the indigenous work 'Wen’use Goli', arranged by Siya Makuzeni and Neo Muyanga, during the semi-finals of the competition.

The four finalists entertained the audience with their interpretation of four songs in the jazz, classic, lyric and contemporary repertoire, including compositions by Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Tutu Puoane, Neo Muyanga, Mozart and Stravinsky, among others. One of the songs, titled ‘How Do I Feel', was inspired by Miriam Makeba’s speech at the UN in 1963.