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The Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet

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The Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet is a chamber group which was established in 2022 by Makhanda based clarinettist and Rhodes University (RU) lecturer, Jenny Brand. She envisioned a group of professional clarinettists coming together from different parts along the Cape, performing exciting works written and commissioned for the clarinet quintet – ‘a unique and special chamber music setting’. The wide variety of music performed by the quintet, is aimed at not only being enticing to listeners – of all ages but is hoped to be used as a strategic tool to development clarinet playing in both the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. Since 2022, the quintet has enjoyed a busy and active performing schedule, performing in East London, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Gqeberha, at the 2023 Toyota National Woordfees (Stellenbosch), at the International Clarinet Extravaganza(Bloemfontein), and performed at the 2024 National Arts Festival in Makhanda. It was here where their production, ‘Umbhiyozo Womculo’ – a Celebration of Music, won both a Standard Bank Ovation Award and a Standard Bank Bronze Ovation Award, being one of only 14 productions to receive a major award at the festival. The ensemble also includes clarinettists Annamarie Bam, Grant Snyman, Anthony Drake and Lance Thuynsma.

  • Date: Sunday, 23 February
  • Venue: NMU south campus auditorium
  • Starting time: 15h00

JENNY BRAND started her clarinet tuition under Werner Dannewitz, in Pietermaritzburg, where she played in the Natal Youth Orchestra andWind Band. She completed her Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music (Hons) degrees at the University of the Free State (UFS), under Heinrich Armer. During her studies, she completed the UVLM (UNISA) and was invited to play for the UNISA Licentiate competition for overseas studies. During her studies, she performed as a soloist in the PACOFS annual Youth Concerto Festival, won the UFS Music Prize and was the winner of the Woodwind Section of the ATKV Forte Music Competition. She played in the Free State Youth Orchestra and in SANYO for several years, as well as the PACOFS Orchestra. After her studies she taught at the College for the Arts in Windhoek, Namibia, and later returned to Bloemfontein where she taught at the Musicon for several years. She relocated to Grahamstown (Makhanda) in 2010, where she is currently a full-time music educator at Kingswood College. She is the principal clarinettist of the ECPO, an avid chamber musician and the founding member of The Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet (2022).

ANNAMARIE BAM is based in Somerset West. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree, from the University of the Free State (UFS), studying with Harold Strebel in Cape Town and Heinrich Armer in Bloemfontein. She won the overseas scholarship for her Performer’s Licentiate from the Royal Schools of Music and continued her studies at the Royal Academy in London under John Davies, Richard Addison and Anthony Pay. She also attended masterclasses by Karl Leister in London and Guy Deplus in Nice. Her orchestral experience began at an early age in Bloemfontein where she joined various wind bands and the PACOFS Orchestra. On her return from London, she joined the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (now KZNPO) and later took up a full-time teaching post at the Musicon in Bloemfontein. Annamarie is an experienced chamber musician and believes in changing people’s lives by teaching a love for music and the discipline of playing an instrument. She has her own music practice in Somerset West and Stellenbosch, where she teaches pre- school recorder and clarinet to students of all ages. She is also a part-time lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch Music Department.

DR GRANT SNYMAN is an accomplished clarinettist, conductor and academic, who currently serves as the contract lecturer in clarinet, saxophone and instrumental conducting at Nelson Mandela University. After matriculating from Grey High School, he went on to complete his Bachelor of Music degree (2015, cum laude), Master of Music degree in Choral & Orchestral Conducting (2017), and his Doctor of Philosophy (Music) in 2024. He holds both an Associate (ACTL) and Licentiate (LTCL) from Trinity College London, and a Licentiate (LRSM) from the Royal Schools of Music – all achieved with distinctions. Academic achievements include the Charles Bryars’ Scholarship, SAMRO bursaries, and was recognised as part of South Africa’s Top 500 university students (2020 & 2023). He was also the recipient of the prestigious NIHSS-SAHDU and International DAAD Scholarship. He has performed on stages across South Africa and abroad, performing in the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (ECPO), the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO) and the National Namibian Symphony Orchestra (NNSO).

Recently, he performed as principal clarinet of the International Caledonian ChamberOrchestra in Scotland. He has toured with the MIAGI Orchestra (2014 & 2024), performing in prestigious venues such as the Philharmonie and Konzerthaus (Berlin), Laeiszhalle and Elbphilhamonie (Hamburg), and the Royal Concertgebouw (Netherlands). In 2017, he performed in Carnegie Hall (USA), with the KwaZulu-Natal Wind Orchestra. He has also participated in masterclasses with world-renowned clarinettists; Carina Washington, Ferdinand Steiner, Yevgeny Petrov, Valdemar Rodriguez, Anthony Pike, Arno Piters, Bence Szepesi, Michael Hesselink, Heidri Faber, Prof Danre Strydom and Prof Eddy Vanoosthuyse.

ANTHONY DRAKE is a clarinettist and saxophonist originally from London, UK. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), and a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. In England, Anthony performed with renowned ensembles including the Galliard Ensemble, the Canterbury Philharmonic Orchestra, the Camerata Santa Dorothea and the Central Band of the Royal British Legion. In 2012, he moved to South Africa to take up the position of co-principal clarinet with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. Since then, he has performed extensively with various groups including the Arts Centre Jazz Band (Komani), Buffalo City Metropolitan Orchestra, Eastern Cape Chamber Orchestra and Buffalo City Big Band. Anthony is also solo saxophonist for Urban Connection SA. Anthony has served as the former Head of Music for Cambridge Primary School (East London), the former Head and Program Manager of Keiskamma Music Academy (Hamburg, SA) and is the founder and current Executive Director of Incopho Development Project – a rural NGO with a focus on youth empowerment and music education in Cathcart. In November 2023, he featured on the tenor saxophone on Mlungisi Gegana’s new album ‘My Time My Space’ and in 2024, played alto saxophone for Dumza Maswana’s Umngqungqo Orchestral Experience. Anthony has performed at several festivals including the National Arts Festival, Umtiza Arts Festival, Chris Hani Jazz Festival and the Toyota US Woordfees.

LANCE THUYNSMA is an accomplished clarinettist and educator. He graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a Bachelor of Music in 2016 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clarinet Performance in 2018. During his time at UCT, he was an active member of several orchestras and ensembles. He served as principal clarinet for both the University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Cape Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble and Youth Orchestra. Lance has performed extensively as a soloist and orchestral musician. Most recently in 2022, he performed the first movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) at the 5 th South African Conductor’s Competition, conducted by Jacobus de Jager, who went on to win the competition. He has also performed with several South African orchestras, such as the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO), and the Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO). In 2018, Lance performed the second movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the CPO under the direction of Maestro Xavier Cloete.

That same year, he toured Europe with the MIAGI Orchestra, performing in prestigious concert halls such as the Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Konzerthaus (Berlin), and the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), and attended the Immling Festival (Germany) and Verbier Festival (Switzerland). Lance has also partaken in masterclasses with some of the world’s leading clarinettists; including Olivier Patey, Arno Piters, Ferdinand Steiner, Robert Pickup, Charles Neidich, Junnan Sun and Maria du Toit. Lance currently teaches at SACS Junior School and continues to freelance as a clarinettist across South Africa.

PROGRAMME

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Handel (1685–1759)

Divertimento No. 12 in E? Major KV 252 Mozart (1756–1791)

i. Andante
ii. Menuetto and Trio
iii. Polonaise Andante
iv. Presto assai

Miniature Town Rika Ishige (1986 –)

Selections from Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) (arr. by Eiji Suzuki)

The Impresario Overture Mozart (1756–1791) (arr. by Bill Malcolm)

Selections from The Merry Widow Franz Lehár (1870–1948) (arr. by Eiji Suzuki)

I N T E R V A L

Caprice for Clarinets Clare Grundman (1913–1996)

Kaleidoscope (2022) Bald Wyntin (1966 –)

i. Confession at Dusk
ii. Loosening the Fingers
Clarinet Buskers Akira Toda (1953–)

Fire is Low (2024) Freshly Ground (arr. by David McCoy)

African Medley (2024) Traditional Song (arr. by David McCoy)

ENCORE: Rephrygeration (2024) Todd Stalter (1966 –) (arr. by David McCoy)

The concert schedule for the year:

Venues:

  • NMU south campus auditorium
  • Dutch Reformed Church, Summerstrand. (Two Soirée Musicales in collaboration with the Feather Market Organ Society on 14 May and 15 October).

Sunday, 16 March: Gustavo Romero (pianist) at 15h00

Wednesday, 14 May: Soirée Musicale at 18h00

Sunday, 18 May: OPERA-TANGO with Zanne Stapelberg (soprano) and Albie van Schalkwyk (piano) at 15h00

Sunday, 27 July: Take 4 Piano Quartet at 15h00 With Zanta Hofmeyr (violin) Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola), Susan Mouton (cello) and Elna van der Merwe (piano)

Wed 10 Sept: Liesl Stoltz (flute) in concert with Han Jonkers (classical guitar) and Nicolas Conti (viola) at 19h00

Wed, 15: October Soirée Musicale at 18h00

The PEMS cannot survive without your financial support. Please attend the concerts and inspire all around you to also become members.

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