Download CV of Johann van der Sandt – Drakensberg boys choir

CV of Johann van der Sandt – Drakensberg boys choir
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VAN DER SANDT TO HEAD MUSIC AT DRAKENSBERG BOYS' CHOIR
World renowned conductor, Johann van der Sandt, has been appointed to the position of Director of Music at
South Africa's famous Drakensberg Boys' Choir School.
"I see this appointment as one of my biggest challenges to date, musically as well as educationally." Said
van der Sandt, "A challenge in the sense of making sure the choir will continue to do truth to it's reputation as
a national asset and world class choir, while at the same time staying true to my belief and calling, that of
being a music educator, using choral music as the vehicle to teach music and life skills to children."
Johann van der Sandt was born in the Free State Province of South Africa. He studied at the University of
Pretoria where he obtained his B.Mus (Ed), B. Mus (Hons), M Mus (Music Science) and D.Mus (Performing
Art), as well as Diplomas in Individual Music education in piano, organ, vocal training and clarinet.
Van der Sandt had his first taste of singing as a schoolboy in his school choir and in the then NorthTransvaal Youth Choir. While studying at the University of Pretoria he sang in the University of Pretoria
Camerata.
He made his début as choral conductor in 1989 with the Impromptu Chamber Choir. He led the East Rand
Youth Choir for six years (1993-1997) where he strived to establish the choir as one of the leading youth
choirs in the country with an extensive and diverse repertoire including simple South African and African folk
songs, standard a capella compositions and works by South African composers. In July 1994 the choir took
part in the 16th Béla Bartók Choral Competition, Hungary, where they won the folklore section and they
received the 2nd prize in the Mixed Youth Choir Section. At the same event Van der Sandt received the prize
for the 2nd best conductor.
In January 1996 he received a Diploma in Choral Conducting at the Institute of Choral Conductors Training,
Gorinchem (The Netherlands) under the direction of Joop Schets.
Van der Sandt leaves his current position of Professor in Choral Conducting at the University of Pretoria, and
the official Choral conductor of the University, where he implemented a unique model for choral singing on
South African University campuses.
"I am very excited about this appointment. All too seldom does one see the aligning of matchless talent in a
prime, fertile setting. There can be no doubt that the eagerly anticipated arrival of one of South Africa's
premier conductors, Johann van der Sandt, at the iconic Drakensberg Boys Choir School is one of those all
too rare events. The possibilities of this hitherto unmatched liaison are staggering in scope. Our Boys, South
Africa, and indeed the rest of the world can only benefit." said DBCS Rector, Maurice Dicks on van der
Sandt's appointment.
Recent invitations include:
Guest conductor of the Prague Chamber Choir, concert dates still to be determined.
Permanent jury member for the International Festival and Competition of Advent and Christmas Music,
Prague, Czech Republic.
Jury member for the 41st International Choir competition in Spittal, Austria.
Guest conductor for the Austrian government's Bundesministerium für soziale Sicherheit und Generationen
in Graz, Austria (2002 and 2003)
Guest lecturer at the Institute of Music Pedagogy of The University of Music and Art, Graz, Austria; 2003.
Guest lecturer and conductor on the choral traditions of South Africa at The Performing Arts Institute of
Wyoming Seminary (USA) (2004,2005,2006, and 2008).
Guest conductor for Vorarlberg's Choral Association in Bregenz, Austria (2004 and 2006).
Guest Conductor in November 2005 for a combined choir of members of Musica and Cantinovum Chamber
Choirs, Jyväskylä, Finland. The concert featured contemporary South African choral repertoire.
Guest lecturer at the Department of Musicology, University of Jyväskylä and the school of Music, [[Jyväskylä
University of Applied Sciences]], Finland (2004, 2005 and 2006).
Choirs under his direction have won numerous choral competitions, both on international and national level.
The Tuks Camerata won the first prize in the acclaimed International Choral Competition, Spittal an der
Drau, Austria, July 2001. They attained a percentage of 98% in the competition. In the same year they were
awarded the prize for the best rendition of a prescribed work in the Arnhem International Choral Competition
(The Netherlands). Choirs (The Rand Afrikaans University Choir and the University of Pretoria Camerata)
under his direction have been awarded the Grand Prix award at the Prague International Choral Competition
for two years consecutively.
As conductor he has been awarded: winner of price for best conductor with the East Rand Youth Choir's
participation at the 16th International Béla Bartók Choir Competition, Debrecen, Hungary, and in 1998,
winner of price for best conductor with the Rand Afrikaans University Choir's participation at the Prague
International Choir Competition, Czech Republic.
He is also conductor of the Sinkronies Chamber Choir. The choir's aim is to form a podium for the work of
South African composers. In this way the choir endeavours to make a contribution to the archive of South
African choral music. The choir was already nominated for two South African Music Awards in the category:
Best Choral Performance. The choir won the 1998 South African Music Award for their recording of the
sacred a capella works of the Stellenbosch composer Pieter van der Westhuizen. In 2006 Van der Sandt put
together Cant'Afrika, a singing group of 12 singers whose aim it is to study and perform works of South
African composers.
He has attended the World Choral Music Symposia in Vancouver, Canada, August 1993, Sydney, Australia,
August 1996, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1999; Minneapolis, 2002, as well as the European Symposium
on Choral Music in Ljubljana, Slovenia, during July 1995. Under invitation from Eric Ericson he attended the
following master-classes:
1996 December: Amsterdam (Choir: Netherlands Chamber Choir).
1997 September; Prague (Choir: Prague Chamber Choir).
1998 February; Amsterdam (Choir: Netherlands Chamber Choir)
Van der Sandt is also a composer and is well known for his choral arrangements, performed by national and
international choirs. His first publication, in co-operation with the composer Niel van der Watt, was published
in June of 1995 - African songbook for mixed choir. Under his artistic direction the German label Prospect
have launched the CD series South African Choral Music.
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