Violinist Kitso Moreeng from Bloemfontein is flying the flag for the Free State at the 2026 National Youth Music Competition (NYMC).
The 18-year-old matriculant at Grey College is one of the six violinists who were selected to play in the week-long contest.
The talented musician started playing music at the age of eight. His first mentor was Ms Sehle Mosole. Nowadays he is tutored by a former NYMC contestant and adjudicator, Samantha Durrant of the Odeion string quartet.
The second of four children, Kitso is the only one who currently plays a musical instrument. His mother used to play the organ and his older sister used to play the violin.
The rising star also plays the oboe, and his favourite musical instrument is the harpsichord.
His motivation to enter the NYMC was to see his friends and peers on stage. “I think that also motivated me to practice more.” He believes that the competition will bring him important skills in performing and handling the pressure that is associated with competitions.
He has several musical role models. They are Samantha Durrant, Miclen Laipang, Farida Bacharova and Hilary Hahn.
The talented violinist says he doesn’t really count the time he spends practising. “I just strive to achieve my very long list of goals for each practice session,” he elaborates. Outside of his musical focus, Kitso do debating.
Russian composer Igor Stravinsky is his favourite composer. “I love the way he uses the orchestra, especially in his ballets. And obviously I love his Rite of Spring and The Firebird,” he smiles.
After achieving his matric, he would like to study for a BMus degree, but he hasn’t yet decided at which institution.
Should he be able to be an inanimate object, Kitso, like string instrumentalists, would love to be rosin. “It is so beautiful, and it looks like candy,” he says.
The emerging star describes himself as fabulous and lives by the motto: “Just keep serving and slaying the house down.”