Stellenbosch-born pianist and composer, David Earl, is returning to his roots to join the panel of adjudicators of the National Youth Music Competition (NYMC). Currently, he is based in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.

David Earl broadcast a piano recital for the SABC at the age of 16, and at 17 made his professional concerto debut with the then Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. He moved to London at the age of 19.

The competition, now in its 41st year, takes place from 1 to 6 December at the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch. It is determined over four rounds in five categories – piano, string instruments, woodwind instruments, brass instruments, and other orchestral instruments such as harp, percussion and marimba.

This year there are 11 pianists, five cellists, three saxophonists, two violinists, a flautist, marimba player and a oboist.

Only 24 emerging classical instrumentalists between the ages of 14 and 19 years have been selected for this year’s contest. The NYMC rules dictate that no more than 25 candidates may be selected.

Director of the NYMC, Prof Mario Nell of Stellenbosch University (SU), will be the non-voting chairman of the panel.

The other adjudicators are Emeritus Professor John Hinch (woodwinds), Pamela Kierman (woodwinds), head of the brass section at SU, Prof Catherine Foxcroft (piano), head of music and musicology at Rhodes University, Samantha Durrant (strings), the artistic leader of the Odeion String Quartet and as a violin lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS) Odeion, Berthine van Schoor (strings), a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria, and Franklin Lewis (piano and general), is an experienced educator and academic with a robust background in music education.

Both Prof Nell and Samantha Durrant are former contestants and prize winners of the NYMC.

Over the five days of the NYMC, the panel will listen to nearly 200 works with a total duration of 25,25 hours. They will individually score the 24 contestants. The upcoming stars compete for the coveted title, the R180 000 prize money, gold, silver and bronze medals.

The competition winner and final ranking of the NYMC are cumulatively determined over four rounds. It is the only competition in South Africa where the six finalists compete for top honours, accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).

The final round is determined at a gala concert on Saturday, 6 December at the Endler Hall.

Entrance to the first three rounds is free. Tickets from R110 for the final round’s gala concert are available from Quicket Tickets from R110 for the final round’s gala concert are available from Quicket. Click here.