The 19-year-old pianist, Vivianna Shmanova Pearson from Wynberg in Cape Town, takes on the 2024 National Youth Music Competition (NYMC) with the dream of becoming a touring artist sharing her music with people around the world.

The talented artist started her musical journey at the age of seven with Sue Paterson-Jones. At the beginning of this year she started studying music at the University of Cape Town under Prof François du Toit. In September 2024 she started pursuing a new musical journey at the Royal College of Music in London.

Vivianna says she practices three to four hours per day. She also plays the flute. Although the piano is her first love, the budding star’s other favourite instrument is the voice. “I thoroughly enjoy listening to singing.

“I was the first musician in my family but after I started the piano my younger brother took up the clarinet and my younger sister started piano, as well as violin.”

She loves to crochet and also enjoys keeping up her physical health in the form of various sports, mostly running.

When asked the question of how she would describe the colour of her music, she says there are many colours, depending on the music. Each piece has its own character and therefore deserves its own colour. “I try to bring out different colours in the various pieces that I play.”

Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff is her favourite composer, she says his works are filled with passion and beauty.

Vivianna describes herself as thoughtful. Her life motto is: Work hard and seize every opportunity that comes your way.