The NMMU Music Department is hosting the 2015 South African Horn Symposium from 12-14 June under the auspices of the International Horn Society. As one of the few music departments that offer specialist tuition on this instrument in South Africa, the department have produced many excellent horn players and alumni could be found around the world where they are active as performers or teachers. There are also a relatively large concentration of active amateur hornists in Port Elizabeth. This makes NMMU an appropriate host for horn enthusiasts and teachers across the country. The weekend’s activities include lectures, performances and master classes with the visiting artist, Dr. Phil Golson previously from Clearwater College in the US and currently President and Director of the Garden Route Arts, Communication and Education (GRACE, Inc.) based in Knysna.
The symposium will feature two concerts that will be open to the public. On Friday 12 June at 19:00 the symposium will launch with a free concert in the NMMU South Campus Auditorium. The concert will feature performances by the NMMU Horn & Brass Ensembles. On Saturday 13 June at 19:00 the second concert will take place at the NMMU Conservatoire in Bird Street. Visiting hornists Neil Smit and Eugene Kierman will perform with Pamela Kierman as accompanist. Phil Golson will team up with Kobus Buys and Erik Albertyn to perform a trio for horn, tuba and piano by American composer Alec Wilder. The rest of the programme will be performed by finalists of a solo competition that will be held earlier on Saturday.
The symposium will close off with an outdoor mass horn ensemble performance at the Boardwalk at 12:30 on Sunday 14 June.
More information from Prof Erik Albertyn at 041 504 4235.
Alan Straton
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