Silver medallist pianist heading to Hermanus

The silver medal winner of the 2025 National Youth Music Competition (NYMC), pianist Yu Qing Peng, 18, will perform a wide-ranging repertoire on Sunday, 6 September 2026 at 15:30 at the Hermanus Civic Centre as a guest of Overstrand Arts Kunste (OAK).

The talented young pianist is one of the 28 rising stars who have been selected to participate in this year's NYMC from 1 to 5 December at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch.

In 2025, Yu Qing walked away with the silver medal after a gruelling week-long competition over four rounds. This year, 28 teenage musicians were selected to compete for the R180 000 prize money and the sought-after medals.

The OAK annually sponsors the second prize, consisting of R15 500.

He will perform works of well-known composers including Impundulu by the South African composer Peter Klatzow. The impundulu is also known as the lightning bird - a mythical, vampiric creature from South African folklore.

Currently a matric learner at the SAHETI School in Gauteng, the young pianist last year also won the prize for the best performance of a South African work for his rendition of Impundulu. He was co-crowned the winner of the piano category of the contest.

The other works on the programme include 32 Variations in C minor by Ludwig von Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin’s Polonaise in A-flat major, Op 53, the Organ Sonata by Johann Sebastian Bach as transcribed by August Stradal, and two works by Franz Liszt, namely Funérailles and his Mephisto Waltz.

The OAK is a community-driven initiative that regularly brings local and international musicians to Hermanus.

“I am looking forward to the concert. Although it is quite close to the matric finals, I think it will be a good opportunity to perform, enjoy the music, and gain some valuable experience,” says Yu Qing.

The NYMC strives to identify emerging music stars and to expose and develop them.

*Tickets for the concert are R270 and R180 for OAK members, and R80 for students. Seats for the concert are limited. To reserve your seat, contact OAK at 082 940 4238 or email: reneduphermanus@gmail.com.