Cello & Piano Fundraising Concert

ABOUT

About the concert: Friends Lauren Wesley-Smith (cello) and Alex Beaven (piano) played together all

throughout their undergraduate degrees at Stellenbosch University, and are joining forces once

again for a fundraising concert at The Commons in Muizenberg. From Baroque to Tango, Beethoven

to Bruch, this diverse program guides the listener through a number of different historical periods in

classical music, featuring favourites of the piano-cello repertory.

Lauren and Alex are currently raising money to pursue postgraduate studies in London, and all ticket

proceeds will go towards their respective fundraisers.

Lauren Wesley-Smith (cello): Lauren Wesley-Smith graduated from Stellenbosch University with

BMus cum laude in 2019, attaining 36 distinctions throughout the course of her studies. She began

cello at the age of 10, learning first with Fiona Grayer, then Dr Anzel Gerber, and specialized in cello

performance under the guidance of Dr Peter Martens and Babette Roosenschoon. During her time at

Stellenbosch, she was the recipient of 7 bursary awards, including the Graham Beck First Year’s

Scholarship, was the runner-up to the 2019 Edna Elphick award, and performed as a soloist with the

Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra for their Youth Concerto Festival in 2018. Lauren also served as

secretary on the Musicultus Departmental Committee from 2017-2018, and as a journalist at Die

Matie student newspaper, frequently covering events at the Konservatorium. As of 2022, she has

become an Instrumental ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation, a music education initiative

founded by Grammy award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti.

Lauren has been offered a scholarship to pursue her postgraduate professional diploma at Trinity

Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London in September, and is currently fundraising to

cover the remaining costs.

Alex Beaven (piano): Alexandra Beaven began her studies with Prof Nina Schumann at Stellenbosch

University in 2016 and completed her BMus degree at the end of 2019, specialising in piano

accompaniment. In 2019, Alexandra became the first and only ever collaborative pianist to win the

Mabel Quick Instrumental Bursary Competition, in addition to receiving the Betsie Cluver award for

the overall best achievement in piano as a principal instrument in her year group. Other bursary

awards for academic and practical achievements include bursaries from both the National Arts

Council (2020 and 2021) and the Myra Chapman trust (2020). Alexandra is active as a performer,

having played at venues across Cape Town and Stellenbosch such as Casa Labia, (Muizenberg) the

Baxter Theatre (Rondebosch) and W. Heuer (Stellenbosch). Recently, Alexandra was selected as one

of the Songmaker’s Guild Young Artists and will perform in the Guild’s Young Artist’s concert on the

8 May in Cape Town.

At the beginning of 2022, Alexandra completed her MMus degree, specialising in piano

accompaniment under Prof Nina Schumann, in addition to working as an assistant lecturer to the

piano department. In December, Alexandra was accepted for the Master of Arts program at the

Royal Academy of Music in London, and will begin studies abroad in September 2022.

Program:

Cello Suite no.1 in G Major, BWV 1007 (Prelude) – J.S. Bach

7 Variations on "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" WoO 46 – Mozart/Beethoven

Kol Nidrei, Op.47 – Max Bruch

***interval***

Prelude Op.32 No.5 in G major – Sergei Rachmaninoff

Lied Ohne Worte in D Major, Op. 109 – Felix Mendelssohn

Après un rêve from 3 songs, Op.7 – Gabriel Faure

Le Grand Tango – Astor Piazzolla

DIRECTIONS