Hermanus Schmidt
Piano
Hermanus started his musical career with Marisa van Wyk of the Musaic Music School in Somerset West. Marisa describes it as follows:
“The story of a 12 year old boy who walked into my music room during the coronavirus pandemic. He taught himself to play piano during lockdown level 5, and wanted to learn to read music — up to that point, he had memorized music from online platforms. It took him three weeks to complete his tutor book, and the weeks and months to follow was a new library that opened. He started studying music by the Classical masters whilst still pursuing his love for Contemporary music, especially film music. Being a wind instrument specialist, my aim was to recommend him to continue his music studies with a piano specialist. Ronella van Rensburg was our first choice, a passionate and absolutely amazing teacher who has nurtured his talent and opened so many opportunities. Hermanus started his piano studies with Ronella in January 2022 and has flourished under her guidance.”
Hermanus started taking piano lessons in 2022. His incredible diligence, hard work, and learning ability were apparent within the first few lessons. He plays a variety of genres, both classical and contemporary.
Hermanus is currently in Grade 10 at Paul Roos Gymnasium, where he takes Music as a subject. He is also part of the choir and the singing group at Paul Roos and plays tuba in the Big Band. In 2023 he joined the Stellenbosch Youth Orchestra as tuba player and he loves being part of an orchestra.
Performance History
2023
- International Youth Music Competition recital in New York
- Helderberg and Stellenbosch Eisteddfod
- Cape Town Eisteddfod
- Western Cape Piano Festival Competition
- National Atterbury Piano Competition
- Concerto performance with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra
2022
- Online Music Talent Showcase
- Stellenbosch Eisteddfod, International Youth Music competition
Awards
2023
At the Stellenbosch Eisteddfod, Hermanus was awarded:
- The Stellenbosch Eisteddfod Medal: Best performance of Piano Solo (14 years)
- Cecilia Laurens Trophy: Best performance of a Piano Concerto (15 years and younger)
- Stellenbosch Eisteddfod Medal: Best Jazz Pianist in High School Categories
- Stellenbosch Eisteddfod Cash Prize: Best participant in two of three compulsory categories - Sonata, Solo, and or Piano Concerto
- Heuer Cash Prize: Best participant in Piano Concerto categories
- Stellenbosch Eisteddfod Cash Prize: Best Results Senior Piano Categories
His achievements at the Stellenbosch Eisteddfod culminated in the prestigious JB Collins Shield (second year in a row) for the most promising piano contestant (senior categories).
2022
Stellenbosch Eisteddfod: He received awards in the following categories following his participation:
- Piano Solo (13 years) Stellenbosch Musiekonderwysers-vereniging beker
- Piano Senior (Hugo Basson trophy): Best Participant in Senior category (Stellenbosch Eisteddfod medal)
- Most Promising Participant in Piano Categories (the JB Collins Shield)
Trinity College of London Grade 7 exams: Hermanus scored 95% and was awarded Top Achiever.
International Youth Music Competition: For the two pieces he entered, he received 98% and 96% respectively. At the subsequent Artist of the Year competition, he was awarded the second runner up prize with his 97% score in the senior age group (14-18) in the piano category.
Helderberg Eisteddfod: At the Helderberg Eisteddfod he raked in the following awards:
- Best achievement in Contemporary Music, piano, (14 years)
- Best Achievement in Piano (14 years).
He was also awarded an award for excellence for Outstanding Achievement in Piano (senior phase) - highest average. He performed 5 pieces for which he was awarded an average mark of 97.5%.
Cape Town Eisteddfod: At the Cape Town Eisteddfod, he won the Sona Whiteman Memorial Medal for “best concerto”. Western Cape Piano festival competition: At the Western Cape Piano festival competition he was awarded second runner up in the 14 to 16 year old age group.
Concerto with Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra: He played the Grieg piano concerto (first movement) with the orchestra and received a standing ovation.