Mr Thomas Erlank is less than nine months into his tenure as programme manager (for the BA Music & Society and Honours BA Music programmes). In this capacity, he enjoys the opportunity to have a deeper engagement with students that goes beyond teaching: advising and guiding them through any problems or difficult times they may be experiencing.

He is very grateful for his working environment, especially the abundant support that enables him to do his job properly. Although the research component has been a big adjustment, especially the “logistics of writing”, he is very enthusiastic about the topic of his research (broadly music and psychology) as it helps him a lot in working with his students. After completing his PhD studies on anxiety in opera performance later this year, he intends to continue with research in this field.

Teaching remains the most pleasant part of his job, working with students on the music and especially the texts, as he has a deep interest in literature and poetry. It also demands “insane creativity” and “thinking on your toes” to give each student what they need at that specific moment — each lesson is different, which is a challenge but also very satisfying.

As a transplanted “Kapenaar”, Mr Erlank is now thoroughly at home in Potchefstroom, although he did experience some culture shock after an extended stay in Europe. His main interest outside of work is photography, focusing on people and trying to capture an idea or emotion in a picture. He is also a proper handyman — always building or repairing something at home or in his garden — as well as a food and wine enthusiast.

His creativity is not limited to musical performance as he also writes poems, seven of which have been set by prominent South African composer, Hendrik Hofmeyr, and it will be recorded next year by Mr Erlank himself, with Prof Tinus Botha, for an album of Afrikaans art songs.

As an international opera singer, he has seen a lot of Europe, Russia, the USA, and Canada, but he would very much like to travel through Africa, especially to witness the wildlife migrations in the Serengeti from a hot-air balloon.