The Rainbow Exchange NPC, in partnership with The South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, proudly presents the 1ST Cape Town Woodwind Festival, 8–11 April 2025.

Featuring the 1ST Cape Town Woodwind Competition, masterclasses, and captivating performances, this festival showcases talented, young musicians as well as well known South African woodwind players.
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WOODWIND COMPETITION

INTRO

The Woodwind Competition is open to woodwind players between the ages of 14 and 28 years. There are two categories namely a Junior category (High School students) and a Senior Category (age limit 28).

Accepted Instruments: flute in C, clarinet in B-flat or A, oboe, bassoon, soprano, alto, baritone and tenor saxophones)

More info soon!
Stay tuned for updates!

DATES

CLOSING DATE EXTENTION!!!

Due to several enquiries and because this is our first competition and want to accomodate as many players as possible we decided to extend the entry due date to 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Submission of online entry and audition recording. Candidates will be informed by 7 March if they are selected to participate.

8 APRIL:

Semi-final Round – Junior Category (Baxter Theatre Centre Concert Hall)

 10 APRIL 2025:

Semi-final Round – Senior Category (Baxter Theatre Centre Concert Hall)

 FREE ACCESS TO GENERAL PUBLIC.

11 APRIL 2025
Final Round (The Baxter Theatre Centre)

PRIZES

Junior Category (High school students)

Overall winner: R10 000
Runner up: R5000
Third prize: R3000

Best South African work: R1250

Senior category (Age limit: 28)

Overall winner: R20 000
Runner up: R10 000
Third prize: R5000

Best South African work: R2500

COLLABORATORS

We are grateful to YAMAHA SOUTH AFRICA who sponsors two special prizes in the form of instrument service valued at R4500 and R6000 each and to MUSICRAFT who sponsors R1500 towards an instrument service.

 Mr Eustace Wilken of YAMAHA, (Product manager, Woodwind

Service Technician, Brass and Woodwind) will present a talk on Yamaha Care & Maintenance on Tuesday 9 April from 10am-1pm at the South African College of Music, UCT. 

We are also delighted to welcome Mr Petri Salonon of THE FLUTE WORKSHOP who will be available on all days to do minor repairs and answer all your questions about woodwind repair. 

The sheetmusic store ALLMUSIC will be present during all days to sell a wide variety of Woodwind music.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we are super excited to have THE FLUTE PRACTICE present during the festival who will be selling some flute accessories and other merchandise. 

Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the jury

Commissioned Composers

We commissioned five South African composers to compose prescribed works for our Senior category. This was made possible by funding provided by Prof. Hendrik Hofmeyr. The composers include Lize Morrison, Paul Hanmer, Owen Dalton, Lize Briel and Andile Khumalo. These works will be performed during the semi-final round of the competition.

CONCERTS

The opening concert will be held on Tuesday 8 April in the Baxter Concert Hall and will feature Woodwind staff from the SA College of Music, UCT as well as leading South African woodwind musicians. On Wednesday 9 April the CPO Winds will perform a concert of chamber music by Ibert, Villa-Lobos, Beethoven, Martinu and Auric. The UCT Wind quintet together with soprano Lynelle Kenned will perform on the 10th of April in a concert featuring works by Martin Watt, Hendrik Hofmeyr and Paul Hanmer.

MASTERCLASSES

During the course of the festival, masterclasses will be presented by all woodwind performers (listed below). These classes will take place at the South African College of Music, UCT.

Please complete the separate online entry form (due date: 1 March) to participate in or attend the masterclasses. Masterclasses are open to the public and not only to competitors.

Participants:
R300 per 30 minutes lesson and includes access as auditor to all other masterclasses.

Auditors:
R150 (include access to all masterclasses)

MASTERCLASS PRESENTERS

Bridget-Rennie Salonen (flute)

Dr Bridget Rennie-Salonen, PhD, is Senior Lecturer and Head of Woodwinds at the Music Department, Stellenbosch University. Many of her former students have excelled in competitions and overseas study scholarships, and occupy critical performance, entrepreneurial, and educational positions in SA and internationally. A well-known flautist with extensive and diverse music education experience, and an interdisciplinary researcher in performing arts and health, she is a sought-after performer, pedagogue, and scholar. Bridget holds certificates in Musculoskeletal Movement Anatomy and Performing Arts Medicine; is Licensed Body Mapping Educator; researcher on the international Musicians’ Health Literacy Consortium; co-editor on the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Musician Health Advocacy, Vice-Chair on the International Society for Music Education’s Commission for Instrumental and Vocal Teaching; and chair of the South African Performing Arts Health Association. She is a regular guest lecturer, adjudicator, external examiner, and academic journal peer reviewer. An award-winning performer in multiple genres, Bridget has appeared as soloist with several SA orchestras, is a freelancer and frequent guest principal flautist, as well as Baroque traverso flautist with Cape Town Baroque. www.bridgetrs.com

Liesl Stoltz (flute)

Carin Bam (oboe)

 




Tatiana Thaele (flute)

 

 

 

Lisa White (oboe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annelize de Villiers (clarinet)

Ferrol-Jon Davids (clarinet)

 

 

 

 

 

Brandon Phillips (bassoon)

Simon Ball (bassoon)

Paul Richard (saxophone)