Brass and Woodwind Musicians for the Competition
Musicians who will be playing parts for our upcoming Competition and Performance.
Our Wind Quintet musicians :
Annelize de Villiers
Clarinet
Annelize de Villiers is a Cape Town based clarinetist with a great interest and enthusiasm for ensemble playing. She is an active chamber and orchestral musician in South Africa, and was acting principal clarinetist of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014 and co-principal and e-flat clarinetist of the KZNPO from 2014 to 2017. In 2017 she relocated to Cape Town and was sub-principal clarinetist of
the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra until the end of 2020. During her postgraduate studies with renowned Swiss clarinetist Frédéric Rapin, she also qualified in bass
clarinet and historical clarinet. She has toured throughout Switzerland and France for various chamber music productions, most notably for the staged production of Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du soldat'' with French director Roland Auzet and singer Thomas Fersen. Annelize performed the African and South African premieres of David Bruce’s acclaimed clarinet quintet “Gumboots”, and is featured on the new live album “For The Duration Of This Cloud”, showcasing experimental South African chamber music. In 2024 Annelize formed the Luna Duo with Danielle Rossouw, and at the 2025 Woordfees, along with the Juliet String Quartet, they were awarded the Woordtrofee in the category “Exceptional contribution to Classical Music - Instrumental”. Annelize
regularly presents masterclasses in the Cape area, and adjudicates at national competitions and eisteddfods. She currently teaches at Rondebosch Boys’ High School and is the clarinet lecturer at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town.
Dr Liesl Stoltz
Flute
Liesl Stoltz began studying the flute at age 13 with Éva Tamássy at the University of Stellenbosch. In 1994 she was awarded a scholarship to study with Shigenori Kudo at the École Normale de Musique de Paris: Alfred Cortot where she also studied with Pierre-Yves Artaud, Jean Ferrandis and Chantal Debushy. Here she was awarded the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste de flûte and Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste de Musique de Chambre (à l’unanimité). She furthered her studies in Italy at the Accademia Internazionale Superiore di Musica: Lorenzo Perosi with Swiss maestro Peter-Lukas Graf and obtained the Concert Diploma in flute in 2001. In South Africa she was awarded the degrees MMus (2003) and DMus (2010) by the University of Cape Town.
Liesl was fortunate to receive scholarships from various institutions for her overseas studies. These scholarships include: Bill Venter/FAK music scholarship; SAMRO; Oppenheimer Memorial Trust; FAK; South African Society of Music Teachers; École Normale de Musique de Paris.
Liesl won various international awards including first prize in the 12th Friedrich Kuhlau International Flute Competition in Germany (2007), 3rd place in the International Flute Competition in Timisoara, Romania (2007), finalist in the Leonardo de Lorenzo International Flute Competition in Italy (2005), and second prize winner at the Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Bucharest, Romania (1999). Local prizes include ATKV Forté Music prize (overall winner - 1999), SAMRO Music Prize (second prize – 2000), Huguenot Music Competition (winner – 1995) to name a few.
In 2011 Liesl continued with post-doctorate studies at the University of Cape Town which was generously funded by the AW Mellon foundation. The aim of her project was to promote South African composers and their works for flute. In 2012 she toured Europe with pianist François du Toit presenting concerts and workshops of South African flute music at the University of the Performing Arts (Vienna, Austria), Cité Universitaire de Paris, (France) and Cardiff University (Whales). In 2016 she was invited to give a recital at the French Flute Convention in Paris where she performed South African Flute music together with pianist José Dias. Her recording Explorations – South African Flute Music (recorded with pianists Francois du Toit, José Dias and Pieter van Zyl as well as harpist Jacqueline Kerrod) won the category “creative output” for the annual Humanities and Social Sciences awards from the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences in 2017. (This recording include works by South African composers Stefans Grové, Paul Loeb von Zuilenburg, Roelof Temmingh, Hubert du Plessis, Hendrik Hofmeyr, Alexander Johnson, Peter KLatzow, Braam du Toit and Paul Hanmer)
Over the years she made various other recordings including French Flute Music, Histoire du Tango (with Portuguese classical guitarist, Pedro Rodrigues), Vuurvoël (with Magdalene Minnaar and Mario Nell) and most recently Recital (together with pianist Albie van Schalkwyk).
At present she performs extensively as soloist and chamber musician and is a part-time lecturer in flute at the University of Cape Town and Reddam Durbanville High School. She is guest principal flute of the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra. Liesl regularly acts as external examiner at academic institutions and as adjudicator for local eisteddfods and music competitions. She performed as a soloist with all major orchestras in South Africa. Over the years she has given numerous solo recitals together with duo partner Albie van Schalkwyk. Her trio Trio du Cap Classique was formed in 2018 with cellist David Pinoit and pianist François du Toit. Since their formation the trio toured extensively in South Africa performing at Universities and music festivals.
Brandon Phillips
Bassoon
Resident conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) since 2015, Brandon Phillips is also Head of Woodwinds at the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town and conductor of the UCT ensembles. He was, until 2022, also Music Director of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and held the position of Principal Bassoon of the CPO.
The winner of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s Inaugural Len van Zyl Conductor’s Competition in 2010 (now the SA Conductors’ Competition), Phillips began his music career in the New Apostolic Church. He studied bassoon and viola at the University of Cape Town, receiving his Diploma for Orchestral Studies and BMus Hons in solo bassoon in 2005.
He is regularly invited as an adjudicator and conductor for various competitions such as the ATKV, Artscape National Youth, UNISA Winds and the Schock Singing competitions.
He is a guest conductor of the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestras, and other orchestras in oratorio, opera and ballet, as well as cross-over concerts and most recently the Suidoosterfees’s Soomloos concert commemorating its founder, Jakes Gerwel.
Appearances with the Miagi Youth Orchestra Festival which he conducted in 2014 in Berlin and Amsterdam received critical acclaim. He has also conducted at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. In 2012, Phillips received a prestigious award from the Minister of Arts and Culture Ivan Meyer for “outstanding achievements by the youth”. In 2017 he received another prestigious award, “Skouerklop”, at the Suidoosterfees. Phillips is supported by RMB Starlight Classics.
Phillips conducts many of the CPO’s popular community concerts which give performance platforms to talented local musicians. He was invited to conduct the German National Youth Orchestra at the Beethoven Festival in Bonn in 2019 and more recently conducted the world premiere of a work by American percussionist Marcus Gilmore with the CPO in Rolex Arts Weekend in Cape Town. In 2021, under Covid-19 restrictions, Phillips conducted the CPO in its Youtube presentation, The Instruments of the Orchestra, for learners around the country.
Owen Dalton
Oboe
Owen Dalton (1998-) is a South African composer based in Cape Town. He has
completed both a BMus (2021) and an MMus (2026) degree in composition at
Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Dr Antoni Schonken, Dr Hans
Roosenschoon, and Arthur Feder. Alongside his studies, he performs regularly as an
oboist with ensembles across South Africa ranging from chamber groups to
professional orchestras. He also teaches oboe part-time at the Hugo Lambrechts
Music Centre.
Dalton has been a finalist in the annual South African Composers’ Award (SACA) for
three consecutive years: 2023 (2nd), 2024 (2nd) & 2025 (1st). Since the competition’s
inception, he has received numerous commissions from musicians and ensembles
across the country. These include the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra,
Symposium of South African Composers’, Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, and the
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dalton’s music has garnered some international recognition. His orchestral work
Century Machines (the one written for the 2024 SACA) will be receiving its second
performance by the Xalapa Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico in May 2026. Some of
his chamber works have also been commissioned and performed by players in the
UK and USA. These include a published bass clarinet duet, a bass clarinet trio, and
a recently completed bass clarinet quartet.
He has also written many works for local musicians including a work for oboe and
piano, a flute sonata, a duet for piccolo and marimba, and a trio for flute, alto
saxophone and piano. Current projects include an oboe concerto, a solo piano work,
an orchestral work, and a large work for orchestra and spoken voice to be performed
in later this year.
Gene Kierman
French Horn
Brass Quintet members :
Brendan Kierman
Trumpet
BRENDAN KIERMAN (trumpet) is a principal player in the Mzanzi National Orchestra, and recently also freelance Principal Trumpet occasionally in the JPO as well as first call principal for the KZNPO Orchestra (2022-25), having won the principal position audition. He also freelances occasionally with the CPO (Cape Philharmonic Orchestra) and the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.. He is currently an adjunct lecturer and frequent external examiner, at UCT. He also teaches brass classes at the German International School (DSK), Westerford H.S, Grove primary as well as from his private studio. He can regularly be seen on stage with the Stellenbosch City Orchestra as principal/soloist trumpet, Cape Town Opera, the Cape Pops orchestra which recently played Swan Lake ballet at the CTICC amongst other interesting projects.
Brendan has a BMus (UCT) and an MMus (Boston University, MA) degree. Brendan held a teaching fellowship & assistantship while pursuing a DMA from the University of North Texas and Boston University for 3 years. He has also served on the faculty of the world renowned Boston University Tanglewood Institute in Massachusetts (USA) as Quintet(Armory Brass) in Residence. He has played and recorded(BIS), with the Singapore Symphony, and has freelanced with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. As well as in the USA, Boston Philharmonic, and Portland, Maine orchestras, amongst quite a few other orchestras in New England, USA. Also he was a Principal player of the North Texas University Wind Symphony(1998-00) and recorded multiple CD's with each year's new band works presented on the Klavier label. And as a soloist in the Fisher Tull Concerto Grosso for Brass Quintet and Band. Also an internationally renowned educational series, recorded ,"Teaching music through through performance in band"(1998-00) In other genres, Brendan been a member of the Jazz program at UCT, Boston University Big band, and Jazz lab program at University of North Texas. Brendan is also an avid Violinist.
Likhona Tokota
Tuba & Euphonium
Likhona Tokota is a South African tubist and educator who will complete his master’s degree in music in 2026 at the Department of Music, Stellenbosch University (SU). His musical journey began at the Beau Soleil Music Centre, where he studied cornet before transitioning to tuba with Shaun Moir, a move that shaped his artistic trajectory. At SU, Likhona studied with renowned brass pedagogue, the late Sean Kierman, who was his principal mentor. He currently studies with Nick Green and Pamela Kierman at the SU Music Department.
As an ad hoc tubist, he has performed with the Cape Town Philharmonic and Free State Symphony Orchestras. He has performed as soloist with the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestras and WindWorx, and the University of Stellenbosch Symphonic Wind Ensembles, the latter of which he serves as student assistant, managing ensemble logistics. He enjoys chamber music, was a member of the SU Brass Quintet, Brahsse, in his undergraduate years, and plays tuba in the Ubuntu Brass Quintet when required.
Likhona was awarded the prestigious Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) overseas bursary, which enabled a study trip to Germany and Switzerland, where he job-shadowed Mark Hampson (Mahler Chamber Orchestra) and received tuition from Hugues Spielman (Robert Schumann Hochschüle, Düsseldorf) and Anne Jelle Visser (Zurich University of the Arts).
He has participated in masterclasses with leading international musicians, including Felix Ceunen (Belgian tubist and composer), Albert Savino Khattar (Yamaha artist, USA), Susana Santos Silva (Portugal), Manfred Häberlein (Harmonic Brass, München), David Cribb (Gewandhausorchester, Leipzig, online), Steve Rossé (Sydney Symphony Orchestra, online), Paul Luxemburg (Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra), Steve Campbell (Minnesota Orchestra), Jarrett McCourt (Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra & University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory), and Geoffrey Pilkington (Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra).
Likhona is deeply committed to community music education and teaches at the Ronnie and Eileen Music Project, Kuilsriver, under the mentorship of Felicia Lesch every Saturday morning. He also teaches at several schools in the northern and southern suburbs of Cape Town.
His artistic interests include contemporary, improvised, and chamber music for tuba, and he has performed with the Africa Open Improvisation Group at the annual Purpur Festival, with a forthcoming CD featuring works by June Schneider, Michael Blake, and Ulrich Süße.
Nicholas Green
Trombone
NICHOLAS GREEN (Trombone) graduated with a BMus degree from UCT in 1992, and joined the CAPAB Orchestra as Principal Trombonist in the same year. He subsequently played both tenor and bass trombones in the Cape Town Philharmonic until 2000 and is now a freelance trombone specialist. He is a current member of the Solid Brass Quintet and performs regularly with other ensembles around Cape Town, including the Cape Town Concert Brass, Windworx Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the newly formed Big 5 Brass Quintet. Nicholas performs as an ad-hoc player for all
of the major orchestras in South Africa and joined the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra as principal trombonist for a tour to Azerbaijan in 2014. He is a founding member of the Cape Town Pops and works closely with local musicians to create performance opportunities and promote the talent that exists within the Western Cape. Besides an active career within the music industry as performer and educator, Nicholas is also working as an IT professional after completing an MPhil degree in Information Technology in 2004.
Mike Magner
Trumpet
MIKE MAGNER (trumpet) was born in Durban, South Africa, and began playing the trumpet at the age of 14. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Natal under Michel Schneuwly in 2003. From 2004 - 2005 he travelled to
Geneva, Switzerland where he studied under Suisse Romande trumpeter Gerard Metrailler at the Conservatoire de Geneve. On his return to South Africa he joined the Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra as Sub-Principal trumpet, retaining this post for 3 years. Within this time he played numerous solo performances with the orchestra. In 2008 Michael moved to Johannesburg where he took up the position as Co-Principal trumpet of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO). In 2013 he toured Turkey, South Korea and Malaysia with the successful theatre show Jersey Boys and most recently to China in 2014 with Pieter Toerien's production of The Sound of Music. Michael moved to Cape Town in 2014 where he is a highly regarded trumpeter in the orchestral, chamber and show music circles.