Pukki Talentfees offers something for every artist, even for the more classical soul. For those with more of an interest in this genre, Pukki Classic that took place on Wednesday 9 May was the perfect event to attend.

The NWU School of Music and Conservatorium gave the required peaceful atmosphere to the more sophisticated category of Pukki Talent Festival. In this category of the competition, students of the NWU Potchefstroom campus performed exquisite variations of classical music pieces. The diversity was noteworthy: there was comical opera, such as Ah, Un Foco Insolito by Gaetano Donizetti that was sung by Makau Itumeleng; the duo Casta Divas’ moving Mira, o Norma from composer Vincenzo Bellini’s production Norma; and more modern operettas like Glitter and be gay from Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, excellently sung and playfully portrayed by Segomotso Shupinyaneng.

The three categories for the evening was duets and trios, solos and instrumental music. Sibusiso Simelane and Segomotso Shupinyaneng walked away with the prize for duets and trios, with their rendition of Parigi, O Cara from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi. Segomotso Shupinyaneng also won the solo category with Glitter and be gay, and the motivational prize for solos was awarded to Stephen Schalkwyk. The instrumental category was won by Ruan Kruyshaar, with his performance of Frédéric Chopin’s beautiful piano piece, Etude opus nr. 12. The three winning items were also seen on Thursday and Friday evening shows of Pukki Talent Festival in the Sanlam Auditorium.

The classical category of Pukki Talent Festival was a wonderful display of the diverse talents of students on campus. It was also a very welcome evening of tranquillity and great, timeless music, in the midst of an exciting competition week.

Adjudicators – Pukki Classical 2018

• Marguerite van Wyk
• Linette van der Merwe
• Gerhard Benadé

Article by: Rouxné van der Westhuizen

Photo: Annemarie Wichmann