Prof Tinus Botha and his colleague, Mr Thomas Erlank, have presented a series of concerts this year throughout South Africa featuring Schubert’s Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin. Their collaboration will continue next year with Schumann’s Eichendorff Liederkreis and Afrikaans art songs composed especially for them.

In preparation for a possible tour to South America next year, Prof Botha is currently exploring the music of Spain and its former colonies, including the music of Soler, De Falla, Rodrigo, Granados, Albeniz, and Mompou. He also intends to include music by contemporary composers that he met during his visit to Costa Rica and Colombia at the beginning of the year.

Following the release of his debut album a few months ago, another recording will be available before the end of the year: Book I of J.S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier.

His favourite escape is to visit the Kruger National Park whenever possible. Otherwise, he can be found tending to his garden, playing with his beloved dogs, or on the padel court. He is also an avid reader, favouring autobiographies and fantasy novels.

What made him happy recently was to be an adjudicator at the Victoria K. Bennett competition in Johannesburg, and he was very proud of NWU student Thando Mabuza who achieved second place [see our September newsletter].