Saturday 13 May 2023, 15:00, Dutch Reformed Church, Greyton, R160
The ensemble plays music from across Europe combining unexpected musical styles, influences and instrumentation while delivering exceptional instrumental performances — what is perceived to be a “Classical” performance is also accessible to those who are not too familiar with this genre but who appreciate and identify with folk music. Josh Frank (recorders/guitar), Annien Shaw (baroque violin), Mariechen Meyer (double bass), John Pringle (percussion) and Jan-Hendrik Harley (baroque violin/viola/guitar, mandolin).
Biographies
Dr. Annien Shaw
Dr. Annien Shaw graduated from Stellenbosch University BMus.Hons having studied with Louis van der Watt and Suzanne Martens in 2003. Subsequently she accepted a position as a member of the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2013 Annien completed her Master’s Degree with distinction, while consecutively completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Solo performance (Cum Laude) under Jan Repko from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester UK. In the same year, she was awarded a FRSM Diploma from the ABRSM for demonstrating the different uses of neo-classicism in the compositions of Stravinsky and Prokovief. Annien has acted as a substitute lecturer at Rhodes University, Stellenbosch University and Cape Town University, teaching violin, viola, repertoire studies and orchestral studies as subjects. In 2013 to 2015 she was invited to assist as an apprentice at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. Annien holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town under the guidance of Farida Bacharova and Rebekka Sandmeier. Her research into the fingerings of Louis Spohr is intended as a guideline for performance practice and is accompanied by a practical component of four recitals, including chamber works, solo violin works and three concerti. As a student of performance practice, she has been actively involved in the developing Baroque scene in Cape Town. She is a member of the Cape Consort and Guest Concert Master of the Camerata Tinta Barocca. In 2016, she led the Camerata in the first full length Baroque opera production in conjunction with Cape Town Opera, L’Orpheo. She is a founding member of the Juliet String Quartet and the Flat Mountain Project.
Jan-Hendrik Harley
Jan-Hendrik Harley obtained his Bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Stellenbosch (BMUS) in 2002, specialising in chamber music, classical guitar and viola. He holds a Master’s degree in chamber music with a composition portfolio from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Master’s degree in viola performance with early music as related field from the University of North Texas. Jan-Hendrik is the string teacher at Grey High school, a composer/arranger of classical and popular music, and freelances as a performing and recording artist. As composer Jan-Hendrik has enjoyed a number of premieres by student and professional groups in Africa, Europe and both Americas, of works ranging from intimate chamber music pieces to electroacoustic- and bigger orchestral pieces. He has done production work on numerous soundtracks and albums, his main focus being orchestration and scoring. Jan- Hendrik is director of both the modern music group Ensemble Je Ne Comprends Pas, director of the early music ensemble Here Be Dragons and serves as the principal second violin of the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. He balances performing on modern violin and viola with Baroque violin, -viola and -guitar.
John L Pringle
John L Pringle studied classical percussion under the guidance of Suzette Brits at the University of Stellenbosch between 2001 and 2004. During this time until 2007 he was a permanent member of both the KEMUS contemporary music ensemble and the US Percussion Ensemble, performing works by Bella Bartok, Karelheins Stockhausen, Steve Reich, Minoru Michi, Theo Herpst, Peter Klatsow, and many others. From 2007 until 2011 he, along with three fellow composers, Brydon Bolton, Jan-Hendrik Harley and Pierre-Henri Wicomb formed EJNCP, a new music ensemble playing exclusively original compositions by the members. He has performed well known modern repertoire, and presented his own compositions at various festivals, New Music SA’s Unyazi and Grahamstown Fringe, Infecting the city, KKNK, Woord Fees etc. His work as a freelance music teacher since 2003, and lifelong interest in the traditional music styles and rhythms of the African continent has in recent years lead to the writing and publishing of a series of educational books, “Examination Pieces for the Djembe”, aimed at introducing the Djembe drum into the schooling system in an easily examinable format. These publications have been followed by a set of entry-level drumline tutorial books titled “My First Drumline”, books 1 & 2. John is a founding member of Room11, a contemporary free improvisation trio consisting of a live visual artist, piano and percussion, he is an active jazz drummer, performing on a regular basis with the Real Wicomb Trio, and has keen interest in various ethnic percussion styles from across Europe and Africa, resulting in his involvement in the Here be Dragons project.
Joshua Frank
Joshua Frank’s musical career has taken him in many different directions. In 2017, he received his bachelor’s degree in performance on the recorder, the instrument that first piqued his interest in music seventeen years ago. He is passionate multi-instrumentalist, having also studied guitar and oboe at performance level through his undergraduate years. Joshua performs music in various diverse settings, from orchestral, to chamber music, to solo. The strictly Western Classical nature of his musical experience was expanded in 2018 when he joined Here be Dragons. Since then, he has rediscovered his musicality and his instruments in a lively, folk-classical style, and enjoyed every second of this adventure. He plans to continue performing, researching, and expanding his musical horizons.
Dr Mariechen Meyer
Dr Mariechen Meyer believes the double bass or any form of bass to be an essential ingredient to music – music being an essential ingredient to life. Ever since she started playing the double bass Mariechen has been fascinated by the role of the double bass as a solo and chamber instrument. This fascination has led to numerous local and international music experiences such as being member of the Bassinova Quartet (USA) and iPalpiti Artists International (USA), competing in international competitions, attending masterclasses and workshops in the United States and Europe and performing as soloist with the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra (2013), Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (2008) and Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (2004). Mariechen started her studies with Peter Guy in Bloemfontein from the age of 10 that was followed by her undergraduate studies with Roxane Steffen at the University of Stellenbosch and graduate studies with Jeff Bradetich at the University of North Texas. After completing her final doctorate degree in musical arts at UNT with Bradetich, Mariechen moved back to South Africa and is currently working as a freelance performer, private double bass teacher and part-time lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch excited to share her knowledge, to continuously keep learning, do research and help promote the versatility of the double bass, the importance of music education and classical music in our community.