Staff
Regreso a Costa Rica*
Reported by Prof Tinus Botha Following my concert tour with Mr Thomas Erlank last year to Costa Rica and Colombia, I returned to the beautiful campus of the Universidad de Costa Rica in San José from 24–31 January 2026 for the 10th Encuentro de Pianistas Costa...
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Dr Antoinette Olivier travels to the Netherlands & Sweden
Reported by Dr Antoinette Olivier During September and October, I undertook an academic visit to the Netherlands and Sweden, where I had the privilege of presenting classical singing masterclasses and engaging in professional knowledge exchange at an international...
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Awards for teaching and creative outputs
At the Faculty of Humanities' annual awards evening on 22 October, Dr Catrien Wentink [above, second from right] received a Faculty Teaching Award and Prof Conroy Cupido [above, right] received a Creative Output Award recognising his musical direction and conducting...
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Knowing Me, Knowing You — Prof Tinus Botha
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...
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Knowing Me, Knowing You — Dr Catrien Wentink
Dr Catrien Wentink started her term as BMus programme manager on 1 September, and she is very excited to engage more with the students than just as a lecturer in class. She also looks forward to the possibilities for updating and improving the BMus programme in an...
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Staff and students @ Aardklop 2025
Productions featuring several staff members and students of the School of Music have been included in the programme for this year's Momentum Aardklop Arts Festival during the week of 7–12 October in Potchefstroom. Potchpourri Tue 7 Oct • 13:00 NG Church Vyfhoek...
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Prof Janelize Morelli appointed as first director of the Centre for Digital Humanities
The Centre for Digital Humanities (CDH) is a newly created entity within the NWU Faculty of Humanities. According to the dean of the faculty, Prof Dumi Moyo, "this Centre will play a pivotal role in advancing research and innovation at the intersection of our various...
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Knowing Me, Knowing You — Ms Thembinkosi Magagula
As an alumna and the youngest academic staff member at the School of Music, Ms Thembinkosi Magagula is in the awkward position where her former lecturers are now her colleagues. She is still getting used to calling them by their first names! Before her appointment,...
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Knowing Me, Knowing You — Dr Antoinette Olivier
After 13 years of teaching at NWU School of Music, Dr Antoinette Olivier will retire at the end of 2025. She considers this appropriate since 13 is her lucky number! Thinking back on her time at the Conservatory, she says it was a huge challenge for her to find her...
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Knowing Me, Knowing You — Mr Thomas Erlank
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...
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Knowing Me, Knowing You — Prof Chris van Rhyn
The Research Director of MASARA, Prof Chris van Rhyn, successfully spearheaded its upgrade from a research niche to a focus area during his first term. Agreeing to serve a second term, the challenge ahead is to ensure a smooth academic, operational and administrative...
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Residency Reflections
by Ms Thandeka Mfinyongo From December 2024 to March 2025, I participated in a four-month residency at the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. My residency formed part of a broader artistic-research project titled Ingoduko, a...
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