Stellenbosch University (SU) music student Kyrah Adams has cemented her reputation as one of South Africa’s most promising young classical musicians after winning three major prizes at the prestigious UNISA South African Music Scholarship Competition.
The prestigious event took place on 15 and 16 October at the Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall in Pretoria.
The second-year Bachelor of Music student from Paarl was named the overall winner, receiving the UNISA South African Music Scholarship (first prize), the UNISA Developing Artist Prize and the UNISA South African Composition Prize.
Dr Suzanne Martens, Chair of SU’s Music Department, described her achievement as exceptional. “We are very proud of Kyrah and consider her a sterling ambassador of what the Department stands for. Winning three awards is an enormous achievement seldom attained.”
Finding freedom in performance
For Adams, the announcement came as a surprise. Despite her impressive track record of competition successes, winning prizes has never been her primary motivation. “I love performing,” she explains. “I love getting to know myself better and better, making music and being present during every second of my performance.”
Her winning programme included Vivaldi’s Concerto in C major, Orient-Express by Nils Rohwer and two movements from acclaimed South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings.
Adams and her lecturer, Suzette Brits, obtained special permission to include Hofmeyr’s composition, which has profoundly influenced her musical development. “It has shaped my playing and changed my perception about depth and interpretation,” Adams says.
The competition presented an unusual logistical challenge. With suitable instruments unavailable, Brits drove SU’s marimba and xylophone all the way from Stellenbosch to Pretoria. “She truly is one of my biggest supporters, and I couldn’t have done it without her,” Adams says.
She attributes her success partly to developing greater control over performance anxiety while allowing herself the freedom to interpret music spontaneously. “I think this is ultimately what every performer works towards: maturity, and control that allows for freedom.”
From childhood drumbeats to musical maturity
Adams’s musical journey began in Paarl, where her grandfather, an accomplished acoustic guitarist, bought her first drum kit. Alongside her mother, he encouraged her early musical ambitions. For ten years she studied under Annemie Nel at the Frank Pietersen Music Centre, an institution she credits with laying the foundation for her career.
Her fascination with percussion stems from the complexity of contemporary compositions, particularly the technical challenges of playing the marimba with four mallets.
Brits, who has mentored Adams since she arrived at SU, describes the young musician as exceptionally disciplined and eager to learn. “Kyrah sets very high standards for herself. She is hard-working, focused and will let nothing deter her from reaching her goals.”
Her ability to memorise complex compositions within a week or two is remarkable, Brits says. What began as a weekly hour-long lesson soon expanded to between two and four hours because of her eagerness to learn.
A defining moment came during the 2025 National Youth Music Competition, when Adams performed works by Peter Klatzow and Keiko Abe. Brits remembers the extraordinary silence following her performance. “After she played there was a silence hanging in the air; you could hear a few expressions of awe before the audience started with their applause. That was the moment I realised that she could touch an audience deeply.”
Adams herself remembers performing Hofmeyr’s concerto with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2024 National Youth Music Competition as a turning point. Having struggled with feelings of disconnection from her playing, the experience renewed her artistic confidence. “It was my first taste of true music-making,” she recalls.
Big ambitions and formidable challenges
Adams chose SU specifically to study under Brits. Her academic life is demanding, with early lessons, full days of classes, lengthy practice sessions and evening orchestral rehearsals. She nevertheless emphasises the importance of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing, drawing strength from fellow musicians who understand the pressures of pursuing a performance career.
Support from her family is also a source of strength. “My mother has always been my number one supporter and biggest inspiration. She attends my concerts whenever she can and she is always willing to make sacrifices for me and my career. I am eternally grateful for her.”
Her ambitions extend well beyond South Africa. She hopes to participate in the World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, Germany, and eventually establish an international marimba competition in South Africa.
An exciting development is already taking shape: Hofmeyr is writing a second marimba concerto especially for Adams, expected to be completed by early 2027. Yet, significant obstacles remain. Brits points out that international competitions involve substantial expenses, while a professional concert marimba can cost close to a million rand. This hefty prize tag will become a challenge when Adams completes her studies and will have to purchase her own marimba.
But Brits believes Adams’ talent is suited for a global stage. “Without international exposure, future endeavors are more limited. International competitions will expose Kyrah to marimba players from all over the world with the same passion.”
Martens praises Brits’ exceptional teaching record and SU’s commitment to nurturing young musicians. “My hope for Kyrah’s future is that she dreams big and will be supported all the way in the quest to achieve her dreams.”
For Adams, the ultimate goal extends beyond personal recognition. She hopes to help classical marimba performance flourish in South Africa and create opportunities for aspiring musicians to compete internationally. “I believe that the standard of musicians in South Africa can be just as good as the standard overseas,” she says.
©Higher Education Media Services.