Who I am
Personality & Accomplishments – I am an avid choral singer and performer. Starting in high school, I have jumped on every opportunity to perform at local festivals and in mass choirs. The root of my teaching experience lies in performance. I cherish and advocate for a love of music in young people. The music academy, AMusic Studio, is one that I own and run and as a member of the band, Good Company, as well as the Cathedral Singers, I have been privileged to arrange collaborations between my pupils at the school and studio, my band as well as local choirs and churches. I have recorded CDs and I have organized concerts and I look forward to more of the same, with an ever-increasing fold of young musicians at my side. I have begun doing research towards a PhD in English.
Experience in the Arts – I love to perform, as a soloist and chorister, band member and teacher. Sacred music performances that I have been a privilege to experience, include performances with Durban’s Baroque2000, the FSSO, the Secret Artists’ Club, Good Company as well as the Odeion String Quartet. I have acted as a cast member in various roles in the Wynand Mouton Theatre, the Odeion, the Callie Human as well as the Sand du Plessis. I have been instrumental in organizing choir tours across the country and I have accompanied choirs on Europe Tours as an accompanist and soloist. Several memorable performances I’ve enjoyed include the FSSO’s Membra Jesu Nostri and Carmina Burana, Fame, directed by Angelo Mokie and many, many more. I enjoy taking my music pupils to perform at local church bazars and festivals, and I enter them for arts competitions and concerts in town. I have a large store of Orff instruments and music teaching books and I can teach a variety of light music ensembles that include instruments which are not commonly found in an orchestra, like guitar.
Core beliefs & Influences - It is my belief that music-making should be a lifestyle. Some of my fondest memories as a music teacher include waiting backstage to perform and climbing on the bus with friends. These are the experiences I want for my music pupils, and I strive to make that a reality. I’ve been blessed to sing under various conductors, including Maretha Krige, Lance Philip, Alex Fokkens, Leona Geldenhuys, Corné van Pletzen, Bonisile Gcisa, Louis van der Walt and Peet van Heerden. I have accompanied choirs ranging form the Free State University Choir, the Cathedral Singers, Cantanto@Bloem, Bloemfontein Children’s Choir, St Michael’s Chapel Choir, St Andrew’s Chapel Choir as well as various other school choirs including junior phase choirs. Cooperation is at the heart of choral singing and that is why I believe that healthy schools should have fully functional choirs. Music is not about the certificate; it is about the experience.
Diversification - Teaching at various private and public schools has taught me to organize field trips and concerts, set assignments and, most importantly, to develop my own curriculum in the arts, life skills and English. It gives me great pleasure to further my academic studies and to improve my music talents. After school, I continued to take music lessons with wonderful musicians such as Elspeth Neary (violin), Stevan Velkov (classical guitar) and Leana Lötter (classical singing). I’ve played in the Bloemfontein Bagpipe Band. I’ve done 10 international Irish Dancing exams and I’m currently an amateur archer. I believe that life should be enjoyed, and that participation leads to growth and maturity. I value health, happiness and integrity and strive towards development physically, emotionally and spiritually. I will fight to protect the importance of the arts, and I believe honesty at work and on a professional level is key to self-development.
Work Ethic - I take pride in my work. It is for this reason that my skillset continues to grow as I try new things and look for new opportunities. I’ve tutored at Teachme2 and have taught countless students in private music lessons as well as in music groups (violin, organ, classical guitar, singing, recorder, piano, theory of music, marimba and most intermediate school subjects). I also thoroughly enjoyed teaching at a tertiary level as a facilitator and Teaching Assistant. I have done external marking as well as tutoring for the University of the Free State (South campus ACT Online) and I really love teaching English.