On 24 April, pianist and DMA student Ben Schoeman performed the Piano Concerto no. 5 by Camille Saint-Saëns with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in the Cape Town City Hall. This concert was part of the CPO’s centenary celebrations and Schoeman performed under the baton of fellow South African Pieter Daniel. The concert received outstanding reviews in the local press and the critic Pieter Kooij wrote: “Ben Schoeman’s beautiful interpretation of the Fifth Piano Concerto by Saint-Saëns was a feast of virtuosity. However, delicate playing and sparkle, typical aspects of Saint-Saëns’ music, were also brilliantly achieved … the audience in the packed City Hall rewarded him with a loud and standing ovation” (Die Burger, 26 April 2014).

A few weeks later Schoeman joined his duo partner, the cellist Anzél Gerber, in a successful performance at the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York. The concert was part of the duo’s first prize in the 2012 Ibla Grand Prize Competition in Ragusa-Ibla, Italy. Ben and Anzél are also embarking on an extended tour of South Africa and Namibia in 2015.

On Friday 23 May 2014, Ben Schoeman will perform the Saint- Saëns Concerto no. 5 with the City University Symphony Orchestra and conductor Anthony Weeden at LSO St. Luke’s. The concert starts at 19:30 and tickets are available on the LSO St. Luke’s website: http://lso.co.uk/145/City-University-Symphony-Orchestra/1048