Profile
Name:
Viktor van Niekerk
Channel Views:
1,391
Total Upload Views:
6,780
Style:
Classical
Age:
30
Joined:
Mar 3, 2011
Latest Activity:
3 weeks ago
Website:
About Me:
VIKTOR VAN NIEKERK was born in 1981, in Johannesburg, and educated in South Africa and Australia. As an artist, he is involved with music performance, visual art, writing and teaching.
He adopted the ten-string guitar at the age of fourteen, after which he chose for his teacher Fritz Buss, longtime student of the legendary Spanish guitarist Narciso Yepes.
He continued his studies with Buss for a further 11 years, winning first prizes at guitar competitions in South Africa and performing at the top concert venues in that country, including the prestigious Grahamstown Arts Festival. He has also concertized in Asia and Australia. Aside from Buss, his performance teachers have included Dr G. Florian Messner (musicologist) and Bruno-Maria Brys (conductor/pianist), not to mention master classes from numerous concert guitarists.
Composers who have written for or dedicated works to him include Bob Dickinson ('Anabasis I', 'The Void', 'Le sang d'Isolde', and 'Nou goth sonne under wode'), Fritz Buss ('Warum?' and 'Fantasie'), G. Florian Messner ('Anagramismo' and 'Mnemosyne') and David Hoenigsberg ('African Sonata').
More Media:
http://www.tenstringguitar....
http://www.myspace.com/vikt...
http://soundcloud.com/user3...
http://saatchionline.com/vi...
Critical Response:
"Just wanted to say that your recital in Pretoria was amazing! It was a divine experience and it felt as if you transported my spirit to heaven through your music! You've developed much as a person, but also in your playing: last time I heard you it was Viktor in control of the music and now it was music in control of Viktor! Your interpretation of Romance is the most beautiful version I have ever heard. Good luck with your studies; looking forward to the next time!"
(T. Hellberg, audience feedback from Pretoria, South Africa, 2008)
"When his fingers glide across the ten strings, it is with the same finesse and flair as an Olympic athlete in action." ['As sy vingers oor die tien snare gly, is dit met dieselfde finesse en flair as 'n Olimpiese atleet in aksie.']
(E. van Wyk, Rapport [Sunday paper], 5 Sep. 2008, p. 3.)
"The recital was greatly enjoyed and appreciated by all my guests. Viktor van Niekerk is clearly gifted..."
(Eduardo García, Honorary Spanish Consul-General, 2003)
"Commendable playing!"
(Marian Friedman, pianist, 2001 Classical Guitar Competition of South Africa Jury notes)
"lovely clear playing ... lovely atmosphere ... very evocative and technically impressive ... excellent use of the 10-string guitar ... a very well controlled performance."
(Tessa Ziegler, guitarist, 2001 Classical Guitar Competition of South Africa jury notes)
"I am convinced that Mr Van Niekerk will...make a strong contribution not only to the academic community but also to broader society".
(Mike Marais, literary theorist, 2005)
"When a young person of age fourteen walked into my studio with a ten-string guitar, of his own choosing, I was sure that here was something special. ... Since his first lesson with me there was never a dull moment. The lessons developed into mutual inspiration and Viktor developed at a rapid rate, technically and intellectually. From the start, he had no lack of understanding for the nature and spirit of the music at hand."
(Fritz Buss, 2007)
"On behalf of our staff, parents and special learners, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your generosity in sharing your wonderful talents with us with the two performances you hosted for our benefit.
"Our school is moved that a musician of your calibre put time aside to support our school.
"The money raised will be put towards our building project that aims to make our school's physical amenities more disabled-friendly to enable our learners access to our facilities.
"Many, many thanks."
(E. Lahoud, Principal, Casa do Sol School, South Africa)
Awards include:
1996: joint 1st prize (grade 6-8 category), Classical Guitar Competition of South Africa
1998: 1st prize (grade 6-8 category), Classical Guitar Competition of South Africa
2001: joint top prize (open category), Classical Guitar Competition of South Africa
2002: overall 1st prize in classical guitar, Beeld Standard Bank Eisteddfod, Pretoria; including best programme, best performance of a South African composition, and best performance of a postmodern work
2006: Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship, Australia
2011: 2nd prize, Cape Town International Guitar Competition
Country:
South Africa
Music:
Bach, Monteverdi, Mozart, Cristobal de Morales, Handel, Antonio de Cabezon, Vivaldi, Leonardo Balada, Clement Janequin, Josquin Desprez, Domenico Scarlatti, Dowland, Guillaume Dufay, Guillaume Machaut, Couperin, Telemann, Nicola Porpora, Palestrina, Rameau, Glenn Gould, Narciso Yepes, David Russell, Michelangeli, Horowitz, Cecilia Bartoli, Sviatoslav Richter, Rostropovich, Nathan Milstein
Books:
J. M. Coetzee, Rumi, Apuleius