Entries for SAMRO National Music Comp now open

The SAMRO Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition, now in its second year, is inviting entries from music students, 13 years and younger. The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) came on board last year as the main sponsor of this prestigious national music competition.

A special incentive for developmental groups from disadvantaged communities enables each candidate to compete on equal terms with participants from other communities.

The closing date for this year's competition is 20 April and auditions in all the main centres will commence at the beginning of June. Approximately 60 candidates will eventually be selected to compete over four rounds at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow, Cape Town from 24 to 28 September. Medals and a host of other attractive prizes are at stake.

Competing in four categories

Candidates will compete in the categories for piano, strings, woodwind and brass instruments, and other instruments (percussion, recorder, classical guitar and harp), with a sub-category for developmental groups. The only condition is that candidates must still be 13 at the time of the competition.

According to Leon Hartshorne, retiring national president of the South African Society of Music Teachers, the competition has broad appeal amongst the applicants from diverse communities as well as instrumentalists across the music spectrum. "In addition to offering participants the chance to distinguish themselves within the ambit of their own sections, the structure also facilitates interaction and contact between students, teachers and parents from divergent communities, from all parts of South Africa."

Entry forms are available at www.samro.org.za.