A 19-year-old saxophonist from Port Elizabeth is over the moon to represent the Eastern Cape at the long-standing National Youth Music Competition in Cape Town in October.
Josie McClure’s love for and dedication to music has earned her a spot among 19 musicians selected from around the country for the 34th instalment of the competition.
“Music is my passion and this is my first national competition, so I’m looking forward to enjoying the experience more than anything,” McClure said.
The Stellenbosch University second-year music student is the only one from the Eastern Cape to have made it through to the top 19. She will go up against classical musicians aged 14 to 19 from the Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape.
McClure auditioned via video after hearing about the competition from her music lecturer Liam Burden, who urged her to take part.
“I love the Eastern Cape even though I’m in the Western Cape now and I’m happy and proud to represent my home,” she said.
The competition was founded by then University of Port Elizabeth and the Port Elizabeth branch of the South African Society of Music Teachers, and implemented by Michael Maas as elected by the committee. Maas, who is now the chair of the competition, will be among the adjudicators.
The National Youth Music Competition caters for classical musicians who are too young to qualify for the Unisa International Music and the ATKV Muziq competitions or too old for the Samro Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition. All 19 contestants will take part in the first two rounds on October 9 and 10, after which the top 12 will compete in the third round on October 11. Only the top six will compete in the final concert on October 13.
The National Youth Music Competition will take place at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Cape Town. Entrance to the first three rounds is free, with tickets for the final concert available at Computicket. Contestants are gunning for more than R145,000 in prizes, and gold, silver and bronze medals are up for grabs. In addition, the overall winner will be invited to perform in a concert at Overstrand Arts in Hermanus.Western Cape finalists will be invited by the Hugo Lambrechts Trust to perform at a concert in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium and the best pianist overall will be invited for a concert at the North West University in Potchefstroom. McClure is one of three saxophonists in the competition.
“I love music and I’ve always focused on the saxophone because I’m just so passionate about it ever since I started at the age of 10,” the former Collegiate Girls’ High School pupil said.