Joining 27 other musicians in the 2026 National Youth Music Competition (NYMC) is the 15-year-old Dylan Price, a Grade 9 learner at St John’s College in Houghton, Johannesburg.
The talented pianist from Dunkeld in Johannesburg says he knows half of the contestants. He started playing music at the age of eight under the guidance of Karien Gudde. Currently, his music teacher is Grethe Nothling, who teaches at St John’s College.
He entered the competition to share his music with as many different musicians as possible, compete with them and learn. “I would like to become a better, and more experienced pianist, which would help me grow and learn in my musical journey,” he says.
The rising star grew up with music. Both his parents played the piano in their youth. His aunt on the maternal side was a piano teacher, and his maternal grandfather plays guitar in a part-time band. His sibling, a brother, plays piano and guitar.
His role models include Maurizio Pollini, Krystian Zimerman, Yunchan Lim and Martha Argerich.
According to the talented musician, he is practising four to five hours daily. When he has some free time, he loves to play sports such as golf and hockey. Dylan loves reading, often builds LEGO, and goes out with his friends.
His favourite composer is Franz Liszt. “I love the variety of compositions, for example the calm and beautiful lyrical sections of Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, the bold heroic theme in his 2nd Concerto, and the virtuosic climax of his B minor sonata. I love his unique style and way of writing.”
On completion of his matric, he wants to study overseas at a top-level conservatory and become a concert pianist, doing solo and collaborative performances.
If Dylan could be an inanimate object, he would like to be a compass. “To me, it represents how I as a person want to find my own direction in life, no matter the confusion. I came to realise this through listening to my favourite piece, Chopin’s Polonaise Fantasy,” he explains.
He describes himself as brave and lives by the motto: “Perseverance through faith.”