At a gala function on Saturday18 August, UCT graduates Monique Hellenber and Kimmy Skota were named the winners of the coveted 2007 SAMRO Overseas Scholarships, collectively taking home a purse worth more than R350 000.
The two velvet-voiced songbirds – in the Jazz/Popular Music and Western Art Music categories respectively – were each awarded a R160 000 scholarship by SAMRO (Southern African Music Rights Organisation) to further their postgraduate music studies at a tertiary institution abroad.
During the intermediate round on 16 August 2007, the field of 10 semi-finalists, hailing from tertiary institutions around the country, was whittled down to four. The final round took place on 18 August 2007, where the competition warmed up to fever pitch as the participants’ clarion voices rang out around the Wits Great Hall in Johannesburg.
The two finalists in each category were required to sing original numbers by South African composers Carlo Mombelli, Darryl Andrews and Hendrik Hofmeyr, in order to prove their vocal mettle. The judging panel had its work cut out for it, but two clear winners emerged in Hellenber (24) and Skota (28), both of whom studied at the University of Cape Town. This marks the second year in the row that the university has produced both scholarship winners.
The runners-up in the Jazz/Popular category were also Capetonians: Lisa Bauer (UCT) and Minette du Toit Pearce (University of Stellenbosch).
“For the first time in the 45 years of the scholarships, all the candidates were women, which is a fitting way to celebrate National Women’s Month,’ commented Andre le Roux, manager of the SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts (SENA), which administers the competition.
“In addition, for the first time there were more Jazz entries than Western Art entries, which indicates transformation in academic teaching circles,’ he added.
The two winners will join the illustrious ranks of bass-baritone Abel Moeng, tenor and conductor Nicholas Nicolaidis, the late world-renowned tenor Deon van der Walt and jazz diva Abigail Petersen, who were previous winners of the SAMRO Overseas Scholarships for singers.
With handsome prize money in excess of R500 000 (two scholarships of R160 000 plus subsidiary awards) every year, the competition rotates between recognising excellence in South African singers, composers, keyboard players and instrumentalists. Only post-graduate and final-year music students may apply.
For more information visit www.samro.org.za.
