Gansbaai’s Brilliant Upcoming Composer - Micaela Loubser

To be one of 5 finalists in the Alexander Composer’s Competition, hosted by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), is to be a winner already - Congratulations to Micaela Loubser (25)! The outcome of the final competition on the 9th of March 2024 will only be a special bonus. Micaela is, without any doubt, a brilliant upcoming composer.

“This opportunity means the world to me! To have the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra perform a work of mine is a lifelong dream come true and I feel honoured to be selected, especially among such talented composers. Initiatives like these play a valuable role in a composer's career, and I am extremely thankful to CPO for their continued support for upcoming South African composers. This being the first time I entered the competition, and I am elated to be selected as a finalist,” Micaela told the Gans-Berg News. She is the daughter of Dr Corrie Loubser, a well-known dentist in Gansbaai and his wife, Fiona.

The presenter of this prestigious competition is Hendrik Hofmeyer, renowned composer, and non-voting judge’s chairman. Louis Heynaman, Chief Executive of CPO expressed his gratitude to the German philanthropist, Alexander Valentin for his commitment and financial support. The five finalists, between the ages of 23 and 28 years, who have been selected to compete for the Alexander SA Composers’ Award in a concert on March 9, are Micaela Loubser from Gansbaai, Lize Briel, Owen Dalton, Chesney Palmer and Kerwin Petrus.

“Thirty works were submitted by the end of August last year and were judged anonymously,” says the convenor of the award, Dr Antoni Schonken. “For the concert on March 9, the 5 works will be prepared by conductor Jeremy Silver with input from the finalists.” The judges are the composers Amy Crankshaw, Arthur Feder, Lise Morrison, and Clare Loveday, as well as Alexander Valentin and the CPO’s chief guest conductor, Bernhard Gueller.

The winner of the competition will pocket R50 000, plus a year-long composer residency at the CPO, a public performance of the winning work, as well as a newly commissioned work that will also be performed and a trip to Hamburg, Germany to attend the performance of the winning composition by the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie (JNP). The runner-up will be R10 000 richer, and the 3rd prize winner R5 000. Both winners' works will be performed in public at least once.

Micaela’s path to success

Micaela’s long-standing dream has been a music career. Originating as a flautist focused on performance her love for music theory later revealed a passion for music composition. “I have continued to pursue this ambition, discovering a passion in the creation and composition of music that went hand in hand with my continued appreciation for music theory,” Micaela said.

Micaela received many awards, with highlights being: *2017 - Performance Diploma, ABRSM, awarded in flute performance; *2021 - Bachelor of Music at the University of Cape Town in Western Classical Composition, graduating her degree with distinction and rewarded with distinction in Composition, Music Technology, and Music Theory and Analysis; *Her dedication was acknowledged, remaining on the Dean’s Merit List throughout her studies and she was awarded the Peter Klatzow prize for original composition in 2021: *Between February and November 2021 she tutored second-year students in the course Music Theory and Analysis II at the University of Cape Town under Prof Martin Watt; *Since 2021 she offered private tutorial lessons for students requesting further individualised assistance with various aspects relating to Music Theory courses.

Micaela is now furthering her studies, pursuing an MMus in Composition from Stellenbosch University. In affirmation of her research, she was awarded the prestigious Harry Crossley scholarship for both 2023 and 2024. “My research looks at the compositional approaches used in the portrayal of the narrative within adventure video games,” she said. Behind the scenes, Micaela has performed in Fundraising Concerts and co-organised numerous concerts in aid of NSRI and Care for Disabled Individuals. “I also have a great appreciation for the outdoors and love nature and maintaining fitness through activities such as trail running and mountain biking,” Micaela concluded. The Gans-Berg News, as well as Gansbaai’s community, wishes Micaela all the best for the final Alexander Composer’s Competition on March 9th, 2024, and for her music career and furthering her studies.

Hardus Botha