A high school pianist from Cloetesville has currently raised approximately R10 000 of the R80 000 needed to fund his trip to New York City to perform at a recital at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in September. This is according to Renata Leith, Chadley Leith’s mother.
Chadley placed second in the International Youth Music Competition (IYMC) with a score of 93.5% for his recorded piano performance in January, said Dr Adriana Janse van Rensburg, the executive officer of IYMC. This placement allowed him to receive an invitation to perform at the DiMenna Centre for Classical Music, explained Janse van Rensburg.
Chadley Leith and Hermanus Schmidt, who will both have recitals at the DiMenna Centre in New York, are playing at a fundraiser at the Drostdy Theatre on 18 and 19 May, according to Renata Leith, Leith’s mother. PHOTO: Stefani Terblanche
“A performance at the New York Prize Winners’ Recital at The DiMenna Centre for Classical Music would give our young musician [the] opportunity to expand his musical horizons, engage in cultural exchange, promote his career, build performance skills and get noticed in the musical community,” said Janse van Rensburg.
Even though Chadley was made aware of this invitation on 26 February, he could only recently confirm attendance, said Renata. As the recital will take place during the preliminary matric exam period, arrangements needed to be made with the department of education, explained Renata.
Chadley has raised the money through donations, selling boerewors rolls, and creating a BackaBuddy page, said Renata. He also has plans to organise an event such as a ball or gospel extravaganza, she said.
Chadley Leith plays in the band at Destiny Church. This is one of the songs that they are currently working on, according to Renata Leith, Chadley Leith’s mother. VIDEO: Stefani Terblanche
A musical journey
Chadley told SMF News that he started playing the piano at 11, while he was at Idas Valley Primary School.
“Most of the kids wanted to do music, but financially weren’t able to go for private lessons,” Renata said. The school eventually employed a music teacher after requests from parents, she told SMF News.
His high school, Calling Academy in Stellenbosch, does not offer music as a subject so he is continuing his lessons at Score2Duo, a private music studio in Stellenbosch, said Renata.
“I told my teacher I can’t do sheet music and stuff, but I can write my own music,” said Chadley Leith. One of his talents is to play by ear, explained Leith. PHOTO: Stefani Terblanche
Special talents
“[Chadley has] the ability to hear and reproduce chord progressions,” said Dr Ronella van Rensburg, music educator and owner of Scores2Duo.
This talent has been evident since he was a child, according to his mother. He plays by ear and prefers to compose his own music over playing classical sheet music, Chadley stated.
Chadley, currently in matric, hopes to obtain a bachelors in music at Stellenbosch University, make more of his own music and perhaps become a producer, he said.