The Beau Soleil String Department offers individual tuition on violin, viola, cello and double bass, with all pupils taking part in a string ensembles once they are ready to do so. Nationally known and respected teachers make up a strong teaching staff and students can expect individual attention, high standards and a supportive learning environment. Jordan Brooks Wins Competition!
Jordan Brooks – winner of the 35th National Youth Music Competition
Jordan Brooks (16), a violin student of Anne-Marié Swanepoel at Beau Soleil Music Centre in Kenilworth since the age of seven, was selected as the overall winner of the prestigious National Youth Music Competition at the Gala Concert on 12 October 2019.
The annual competition draws top young musicians from all over the country who compete over four gruelling rounds, with only six finalists selected to perform a concerto with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Jordan not only won the overall prize of a gold medal and R30 000, but also the prize for the best concerto performance in the final round for his exceptional rendition of the Sibelius violin concerto under the baton of Brandon Phillips. Other awards he received were the strings category prize and the prize for the best performance of a work by a South African composer, a prize he shares with co-competitor pianist Gerhard Joubert.
Jordan is currently the concert master of the CPYO as well as the Beau Soleil Senior String Ensemble. In 2015 he was the overall winner of the SAMRO-Hubert van der Spuy Music Competition for primary school learners. Jordan has performed as soloist with various orchestras and ensembles in the country and is also a keen chamber musician who takes part every year in the Franschhoek Chamber Music Workshop as well as the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. In 2018 he joined the MIAGI Youth Orchestra as first violinist on their extended tour to Europe.
Jordan has received masterclasses from several internationally renowned performers and teachers such as Marc Bouchkov, Alexander Gilman, Phillipe Graffin, Christina Brabetz, Gareth Lubbe and André Swanepoel. Jordan is studying to make a career as a professional violinist. He is currently a Grade 10 learner at Westerford High school.
Members of the Senior Strings performed at the Opening Function of the Joint exhibition by the WCED Arts and Music Centres. The event took place in the Annexe of the National Gallery on Thursday 1 June. They performed the first movement of ‘Summer’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with Jordan Brooks as the violin soloist and Megan Thebus as the basso continuo soloist. Many high-ranking WCED officials attended the event, including Mr Alan Meyer, the new Chief Director of Circuits and Mr Redewan Larney, Chief Education Specialist.
