Triumphant Flautist Returns To The Competition Arena

A former semi-finalist and category winner of the National Youth Music Competition, MyLes Roberts, returns this week triumphantly to the 2017-competition as the guest artist at the finalists' gala concert. The event is on Saturday 14 October at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow, Cape Town.

Saturday's performance also marks the talented flautist's return to the place where he started with flute lessons. Myles played in the competition's final round in 2011, winning the wind instruments category.

He will perform Carmen Fantasy for Flute and Orchestra, by F Bourne. Resident conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, BranDon Philips, will be on the podium.

After achieving his Masters of Music degree, majoring in flute performance at the Stellenbosch Conservatorium, Myles completed his further studies at the Civica Scuola de Musica in Milan under the guidance of Maestro Raffaele Trevisani in 2017.

He recently took part in a workshop for a new performance piece by Philip Miller and William Kentridge and will combine his overseas studies with regular visits to South Africa.

This year 21 young classical musicians between the ages of 14 and 19 years have been selected to participate in the contest, now in its 33rd year.

The competition kicked off on Tuesday 10 October at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium. All contestants play in the first two rounds where after 12 will be selected to compete in the third round. The six finalists will be announced on Thursday night 12 October. Entrance is free to the first three rounds.

"This is the third largest music competition for classical musicians in South Africa with more than R145 000 in prize money to be won. This year the overall winner will walk away with at least R30 000 in cash and a gold medal," says Michael Maas, founder and chairman of the National Youth Music Foundation (NYMF).

Over the past three decades the competition has rendered top musicians such as Pieter Schoeman (leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra), Jeffrey Armstrong (former leader of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Sakhile Humbane, (studying at the SA College of Music, University of Cape Town) and Eben Wagenstroom (studying in Cincinnati, USA) to name but a few.

The finalists' gala concert on 14 October starts at 19:00. Tickets cost R120, R90 for pensioners, students and learners. Bookings can be made at Computicket 0861 915 8000, Shoprite and Checkers outlets, or online at www.computicket.com.