Knowing Me, Knowing You — Leanri du Plessis [student]

Programme & Year:
BMus, 4th year

Hometown:
Walvis Bay, Namibia

Hanro du Plessis, Jandré du Plessis, Johann Otto, Leanri du Plessis and Franken Otto at Pelican Point, Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Instrument(s):
Piano

Professional ideals:
My ultimate goal would be to compose/produce film and gaming music. I would also love to become the music supervisor for film production.

Top 5 must-hear music:
In no particular order:
1. Creation of Earth — Thomas Bergersen
2. Flaws — Bastille
3. Lacrimosa — Zbigniew Preisner
4. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73: Adagio Un Poco Mosso — Beethoven
5. The Living Sculptures of Pemberley — Daria Marianelli
6. Strawberry Fields — The Beatles

Which personal music experiences are most memorable to you?
At the young age of 12, I had my very first orchestral experience when I participated in the annual Musikwoche in Swakopmund, Namibia — I was part of the woodwind section. Until that time, the only orchestras I had seen were those on television. It was then and there that I became hooked.

Leanri du Plessis (horizontal) with Stefan Steyn, Kobus Dippenaar and Rineke Viljoen.

Top 5 must-read books:
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas
3. The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
5. Pride and Prejudice / Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith

Favourite quote(s):
“Be humble, for you are made of earth. Be noble, for you are made of stars.” — African Proverb
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” — Morticia Adams
“Not my circus, not my monkeys.” — Polish Proverb

Top 5 must-see movies:
1. Anna Karenina
2. Melancholia
3. Prince of Egypt
4. Contagion
5. Romeo + Juliet (1997 Baz Luhrmann version)

Which television shows can you watch over and over again?
Any show on the Crime Network, Friends, Roswell, Scrubs, True Blood, The Walking Dead.

Favourite food:
CAKE!, chow fan, anything on a brötchen, a good ol’ sandwich.

Favourite drink(s):
Water, Americanos, beer.

How do you relax?
Reading a good book, or watching a good movie, or taking a great nap.

Which places would you still like to visit?
I would visit any place on the globe, with the exception of Australia and the Amazon due to its extremely large spider population.

Leanri du Plessis and Carl-Heinz Paulsen at Life Market, 2014.

What is the ringtone on your cell phone?
The Mysterious Ticking Noise — Potter Puppet Pals

What is your favourite moment of the day/week/year at the Conservatory?
The beginning of each new year where we get to say hi to old friends, and hear all about their holiday adventures. And to see (and meet) new faces that have just started with their music studies — their enthusiasm is contagious.