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Flaunting Flautists in Concert

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On Sunday 29 September, four flautists will display their talents at the NMU South Campus Auditorium from 15h00. Amore Musicae is a dynamic flute quartet comprising local musicians from Gqeberha and Jeffrey’s Bay. The talented members include, Dr Leonard Heydenrych, Dr Erna Cloete, Liza Klopper, and Kirsti Limbert, with accompanists, Dr Erika Bothma-Troskie (piano) and Dr Mariechen Meyer (double bass), each bringing their unique expertise and passion for music to the ensemble.

Dr Leonard Heydenrych completed his undergraduate medical training at the University of Stellenbosch in 1994. He commenced his specialization in ophthalmology at the University of Cape Town in 2008 and completed his training in 2012. After this he worked as a consultant in neuro-ophthalmology and cornea at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban. He was then offered a corneal fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and commenced his fellowship under Linda Ficker in 2015. He has published in peer reviewed journals such as JAMA Ophthalmology, Current Eye Research, and the SA Journal of Ophthalmology. Leonard returned to South Africa in 2018 and he is currently working as a corneal specialist in Durbanville, Western Cape. He also works as a sessional corneal consultant at Tygerberg Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital. His interests are DMEK surgery and ex-vivo stem cell transplantation. Apart from working as a corneal specialist, Leonard is a keen flautist and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance at the Royal College of Music (London) and a master’s degree in music at Trinity College of Music (London).

Kirsti Limbert (24) graduated cum laude from her BMus Performance degree in Flute at Nelson Mandela University in 2018; and last year she completed her Post Graduate Education Certificate specialising in music education. She is an extremely passionate flautist with a love for sharing her passion. Kirsti matriculated from Collegiate Girls’ High School in 2014 with 8 distinctions. Her teachers have included Ann Yates & Dr Erna Cloete.

Liza Klopper (née Homann) was born in Germiston, Gauteng, and began her flute studies at nine years of age at Goudrif Music Centre under James Smyth. She also studied with Dr Albert Honey and later with Ronelle Bosman at Pro Arte Alphen Park in Pretoria where she matriculated in 1991 with distinction in music.

Liza was a member of several youth orchestras including the TED Youth orchestra, East Rand Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra. In 1994, she participated in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival as a member of the NYO. Liza also featured as a soloist with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra and Wits Symphony Orchestra. She was a member of the Moya Trio who won the Oude Meester National Chamber Music Competition in Stellenbosch in 1995.

She obtained her B Mus, HDipEd and M Mus at the University of the Witwatersrand under James Smyth and Leslie Sheills. She participated in master classes with Trevor Wye, William Bennett and Hans-Georg Schmeiser.

Liza was co-principal flute of the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra under Richard Cock since 2001 and freelanced for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Johannesburg Music Initiative.

Liza’s teaching experience started in 1994 at St Barnabas College in Bosmont. She held part-time positions at many schools, including the National School of the Arts, Braamfontein, Hoërskool Randburg Music Centre, Florida Hoërskool, St Andrew’s School for Girls, Senderwood and St Benedict’s College for Boys, Bedfordview.

Before moving to Jeffrey’s Bay in December 2016, Liza had a large private studio in Edenvale, and her students often excelled at the regional and National Eisteddfodau, and in the ABRSM flute and theory examinations.

She recently became principal flute of the ECPO, enjoys performing chamber concerts, and teaches flute privately and at Victory Christian School.

Dr Erna Cloete boasts with 41 years of teaching that includes various primary and secondary schools in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch. For the past 20 years she is a lecturer in flute and recorder at the music department of the NMU. She also teaches Method of Woodwind Instruments and assists with the teaching of beginner piano students. Erna is an active chamber musician and plays in various flute and recorder ensembles as well as in the Nelson Mandela University Orchestra. Since 2012, Erna is a music examiner for UNISA. She also adjudicates Eisteddfods and music competitions on a regular basis.

Dr Erika Bothma-Troskie was a senior lecturer in piano at the Nelson Mandela University since 1996, but retired at the end of 2023. Over time she established herself as a teacher, performer, chamber musician, accompanist and concerto soloist. She is the President of the PE Music Society since 2003 and plays the violin in the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also on UNISA’s national panel of music examiners since 2003. In 2019 and 2021, she received Creative Outputs awards from the Nelson Mandela University for instrumental music excellence.

Dr Mariechen Meyer believes the double bass or any form of bass to be an essential ingredient to music – music being an essential ingredient to life.  For that very reason she is an expert in her field and an active promoter of the double bass and music education in general.  Ever since she started playing the double bass Mariechen has been fascinated by the role of the double bass as a solo and chamber instrument. This fascination has led to numerous local and international music experiences such as being member of the Bassinova Quartet (USA)and iPalpiti Artists International (USA), competing in international competitions, attending masterclasses and workshops in the United States and Europe and performing as soloist with the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra (2013), Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (2008) and Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (2004). Mariechen started her studies with Peter Guy in Bloemfontein from the age of 10 that was followed by her undergraduate studies with Roxane Steffen at the University of Stellenbosch and graduate studies with Jeff Bradetich at the University of North Texas. After completing her final doctorate degree in musical arts at UNT with Bradetich, Mariechen moved back to South Africa and is currently working as a freelance performer, private double bass teacher and part-time lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, excited to share her knowledge, to continuously keep learning, do research and help promote the versatility of the double bass, the importance of music education and classical music in our community.

Join us for a unique concert featuring repertoire that spans classical masterpieces by Mozart, Debussy, and Tchaikovsky, as well as familiar tunes that invite the audience to sing and dance along. Their performance promises to be a delightful blend of musical excellence and joyful entertainment.

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