Date of appointment:
1 January 1995
Qualifications completed:
PhD
Teaching responsibilities:
Musicology
Performance interests:
Classical guitar and African marimba.
Research interests:
Music as culture.
Who are/were your professional mentors/inspiration?
Gerard Kubik, Andrew Tracey, Deirdre Hansen.
Top 5 must-hear music:
1. Quadro Nuevo
2. Beethoven
3. Habib Koite
4. Diane Krall
5. Katie Melua
Which personal music experiences are most memorable to you?
• Standing in a circle of Venda tshikona reedpipe dancers.
• Attending my first symphony concert as a child.
Top 5 must-read books:
1. Officer Factory by Hans Helmut Kirst
2. Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith
3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
4. False River by Dominique Botha
5. Wederkoms by Louis Kruger
Favourite quote(s):
“The urge to be popular and the urge to exist with integrity are opposing forces. To me, success is something you can look back on and be proud of on your deathbed.” ~ Steven de Groote
Top 5 must-see movies:
1. Tree of Life
2. Snatch
3. The Thin Red Line
4. Dobermann
5. Children of Heaven
Which television shows can you watch over and over again?
• NYPD Blue
• Everybody loves Raymond
• Malcolm in the middle
Favourite food:
The wife’s lasagna.
Favourite drink(s):
Steelworks.
How do you relax?
I cultivate bonsai, especially after a round of golf.
Family (spouse / children):
Wife Amanda-Marié, and children Jamie and Laura.
Which places would you still like to visit?
The great barrier reef.
What is the ringtone on your cell phone?
Prrrrr (medium volume).
What is your favourite moment of the day/week/year at the Conservatory?
The first and last day of the academic year.