Lovers of fine orchestral and piano music are in for a treat on Sunday 26 August when the Nelson Mandela University Wind Symphony, under the baton of Gareth Williams, teams up with pianist Dr Erika Bothma for the first time. The concert will take place at the Nelson Mandela University South Campus Auditorium at 15h00. Tickets will be available with, R70 for Adults, R50 for Pensioners, R20 for Students and Music students have free entrance.
The orchestra, featuring Dr Bothma, will perform the iconic ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ by George Gershwin as well as other works such as Bennett’s ‘Suite of Old American Dances’ and Johan de Mei’s larger-than-life ‘African Harmony – Songs from Mama Afrika’. The orchestra will also premiere a new work by Ulagh Williams, called ‘Heritage Day’.
The concert is a blend of American and African music, and will include various guest musicians and alumni.
Erika Bothma received a B Mus Ed, B Mus Hon and M Mus degrees (cum laude) from the University of the Free State. She was the first ever to receive a Doctor Music (specializing in chamber music) from the Nelson Mandela University in 2012.
She holds a UNISA Performance Licentiate in piano, as well as a Chamber Licentiate (both with distinction). She was the winner of the piano category of the ATKV Forte Competition (1983) and took part in UNISA’s first International Piano Competition in 1981. Since then she has appeared numerous times as concerto soloist with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, the PACOFS Orchestra and the Consortium Musicum in Bloemfontein, as well as the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.
As a piano lecturer, she quickly established herself as a successful teacher with students and scholars winning numerous prizes and competitions including the ABSA Bank Competition, the Border Competition in East London, the UNISA Licentiate Bursary Competition as well as the UNISA Grade 8 Competition.
She is currently senior piano lecturer at the Nelson Mandela University’s Music Department as well as the President of the PE Music Society. She is part of the national panel of UNISA music examiners and plays the violin in the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also regularly seen as an adjudicator of competitions and Eisteddfods, and she was invited multiple times to give masterclasses at the bi-annual Stellenbosch International Piano Symposium.
In 2002 she received the “Arts and Culture Award” of the Premier of the Eastern Cape for “Instrumental Music Excellence.
Join us for an afternoon of greatness!
Alan Straton
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