Art festivals, such as the Toyota US Woordfees, help classical musicians find recognition in South Africa’s music industry, according to Megan Prins, Stellenbosch University (SU) alumni and pianist.
SU alumni and pianist, Megan Prins, performing his piano recital Finding during the Toyota US Woordfees. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“The industry is thriving. For a while, I thought it was going down but now I think it is going up again … Festivals, like Woordfees, which put classical musicians on a podium, helps,” said Prins, who performed his piano recital Finding as part of the Toyota US Woordfees at the Endler concert Hall, on 11 March.
Toyota US Woordfees, which concluded on 15 March, invests in music and musicians to provide valuable platforms for these artists, according to Danie Marais, publicity and film festival coordinator of Toyota US Woordfees.
The industry is thriving, says Prins, and art festivals, such as Woordfees, help by giving musicians a valuable platform. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
Art festivals create an invitation to an audience that is different from usual concertgoers, according to professor Nina Schumann of the SU music department.
“Woordfees attracts a whole different audience from the regular concertgoers. These festivals introduce artists to a whole new audience. And I do believe it very important to support our South African composers by bringing their works to the stage,” said Schumann.