Curriculum Vitae & Press Pics

Albert completed his MMUS in Piano Performance at Natal University under Isabella Stengel, as well as three UNISA Licentiates: Piano Performance, Piano Accompaniment and Teaching (Cum Laude). He has recieved masterclasses from international pianists such as Graham Johnson, Martino Tirimo. He also studied under Prof. Bernd Goetzke at the Hanover Musik Hochschule in Germany. His international appearances include Singapore, Berlin, Munich and Leipzig’s prestigious Gewandhaus.

He was finalist in the National ATKV Music Competition. Other prizes include the UND Performer’s Prize, UND Composer’s Competition, the Young Natal Chamber Music Competition, and the Durban Youth Concerto Festival. Albert also studied the French Horn and singing at Natal University under Angelica Novak and Colleen Philp and took part in SAMRO’s week-long masterclasses with the late tenor Deon van der Walt.

He made his concerto debut with the NPO at 18. Since then he has performed regularly at major centers throughout the country. He performs as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician, in both classical and popular music fields. Recitals include various concert societies throughout the country and partnerships with instrumentalists such as cellist Peter Maartens.

He has extensive recording experience, including Hindemith’s Piano Concerto “Four Temperaments” with the NPO and David Tidboald, through radio and television broadcasts (including BBC World). He has performed on 3 CDS’ by the Cape Philharmonic Orhcestra of works by Hofmeyr, Barber, Korngold and Schnittke in which he was soloist on “prepared piano” and was reviewed in the international Gramophone Magazine.

He was repetiteur for the UCT Opera School as well as Cape Town Opera, performing also as orchestral pianist and harpsichordist in operatic productions.

He was repetiteur for the Portabello company’s “Magic Flute” which sold out in London’s West End and won the prestigious London Critic’s “Olivier Theatre Award”. With this company he had the chance to work with Sir Simon Rattle and BBC’s “The Face of Classical Music”, Charles Hazelwood.

As member of the Cape Town Tango Ensemble he has performed at all the major festivals in the country, with performers such as Mark Hoeben and Ina Wichterich. His work with the CT Tango Ensemble includes two CD’s, “El Tango En Africa” and “Tango Club”. He has acted and recorded for the eTv show “Backstage” and “Stokvel” and been involved in various film projects. He has worked with directors such as Janice Honeyman, Jaco Bouwer and Marthinus Basson. Under director Fred Abrahamse he was assistant Music Director for The Assassins, winner of two Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. The group was nominated for a SAMA AWARD for BEST INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM in 2010 for the CD Tango Club. The group had a very successful tour of Germany in 2011, performing at the Leipzig Gewandhaus in Germany, as well as Tango Clubs across Germany from Berlin to Tuebingen.

As concert organiser and accompanist he has worked with a number of South African and international singers, including Prof. Virginia Davids, Pretty Yende, Marita Napier, Sibongile Mngema, Hans van Heerden and Virgina Oosthuizen, to name only a few. Highlights with international artists include a concert tour with American soprano Judith Kellock of South African and American Contemporary Art Song. He was also repetiteur for British superstar Lesley Garret on her tour to South Africa. He was also pianist for he great tenor Neil Shicoff on his tour to South Africa in 2012. He has performed regularly on television, for Kyknet, Ontbytsake, SABC 3’s Expresso. He appeared on SABC 3’s Top Billing accompanying the international cross-over Superstar Catherine Jenkins and local celebrity Diva Lynelle Kenned. He was Music Director of the 2012 “Dance for a Cure”, which raises awareness and funds for Cervical Cancer Inoculations.

He is a freelance pianist and total chocaholic.

Albert, currently a freelance pianist, completed his MMUS in Piano Performance from Natal University under Isabella Stengel, as well as three UNISA Licentiates: Piano Performance, Piano Accompaniment and Teaching (Cum Laude). He made his concerto and recording debut with the NPO at 18. Since then he has performed regularly at major centres throughout the country, as soloist and accompanist, in both classical and popular music fields. He was finalist in the ATKV Music Competition and winner of the Young Natal Chamber Competition and UND Performer’s and Composer’s competitions after which he was commissioned to write to first Afrikaans Catholic Mass. He has extensive recording experience, including Hindemith’s Piano Concerto “Four Temperaments” with the NPO and David Tidboald, through radio and television broadcasts (including BBC World) to the recent CPO recordings of works by Hofmeyr and Schnittke. He was repetiteur for the UCT Opera School as well as Cape Town Opera, performing also as orchestral pianist and harpsichordist in operatic productions. His operatic experience with CPO included “Showboat” and “Porgy and Bess” which toured Sweden and Germany. He has acted and recorded for the eTv show “Backstage” and “Stokvel” and been involved in various film projects. As member of the Cape Town Tango Ensemble he has performed at all the major festivals in the country, with performers such as Mark Hoeben and Ina Wichterich. His Tango CD’s have featured in films such as “Tango Club” and “Visa/Vie” and has been nominated for a prestigious MTN SAMA AWARD (Best Instrumental Album). He has worked with directors such as Janice Honeyman, Jaco Bouwer and Marthinus Basson. He is vocal coach for Portabello, whose production of Mozart’s “Magic Flute” won a London Critics’ “Olivier Award” in 2008, and has toured Ireland, Japan and Singapore. He has also been Music Director and Assistant MD for various productions including the New Space Theatre’s production of Sondheim’s “Assassins” which won two Fleur du Cap Awards. He has performed regularly on television, for Kyknet, Ontbytsake, SABC 3’s Expresso. He appeared on SABC 3’s Top Billing accompanying the international cross-over Superstar Catherine Jenkins and local celebrity Diva Lynelle Kenned. He was Music Director of the 2012 “Dance for a Cure”, which raises awareness and funds for Cervical Cancer Inoculations. He is co-author of 3 Arts & Culture Textbooks which have sold over 100 000 copies.

Albert is a Freelance Pianist working in a variety of genres: classical pianist, instrumental accompanist, musicals, Opera and Jazz. Since graduating with a Master’s Degree in Classical Piano Perfromance and completing Licentiates in Accompaniment, Teaching and Performing, he has distinguished himself in various fields, both locally and abroad. Performances at the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Singapore are recent highlights. His operatic interests took him to the UCT Opera School, Cape Town Opera and the Isango Partabello company which won a London Critics’ Award for Mozart’s “Magic Flute”. He has performed regularly on television, for Kyknet, Ontbytsake, SABC 3’s Expresso. He appeared on SABC 3’s Top Billing accompanying the international cross-over Superstar Catherine Jenkins and local celebrity Diva Lynelle Kenned. He was Music Director of the 2012 “Dance for a Cure”, which raises awareness and funds for Cervical Cancer Inoculations. He is co-author of 3 Arts & Culture Textbooks which have sold over 100 000 copies. His many CD projects have garnered acclaim, including a SAMA Nomination as Best Instrumental Album and a review in the International Gramophone magazine. His discs include, 3 with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, 2 with the Cape Town Tango Ensemble, as well as a Piano/Vocal Album with songbird Louise Howlett.