PIETER KOOIJ MUSIC COMPETITION 2026

It is, for the 18th successive year, the privilege of Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck to host the Pieter Kooij Music Competition, in collaboration with the Welgemeend School of Music.

Pieter Kooij, well-known former music teacher of the school and a respected music personality, passed away in 2018, but through his generous donation we are thrilled to keep the competition running.

This year the Pieter Kooij Trust grants prize money of R 9 000 to the winner and R 6 000 to the runner-up. Additional category prizes include Best Baroque Performance, Best Classical Performance, Best Romantic Performance, Best Modern Performance, Best Performance of a South African Work, Best String Instrumentalist, Best Pianist and Best Wind Instrumentalist.

The Finalist Concert of the Pieter Kooij Music Competition will be taking place on Saturday, 19 September, at 19:00, in the beautiful Welgemeend Concert Hall. Tickets are R 220 each and include a reception from 18:10 and light refreshments during intermission.

The following finalists will be dazzling us with their performances at the concert:

• Lexi van der Merwe – Piano
• Nika Ann Bell – Piano
• Yafei Wang – Piano
• Micah Pillay – Cello
• Nina Cilliers – Violin
• Rebecca Gray – Cello
• Misha van der Merwe – Cello
• Hermanus Schmidt – Piano
• Meya Cordewener – Violin
• Meya Cordewener – Cello
• Joseph Timberlake – Trumpet
• Quinn Goliath – Saxophone

Elena Monvoisin, winner of the 2026 competition, will round off the evening before the announcement of the winners.

DIRECTIONS

Welgemeend Concert Hall, 129 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001