Prizewinners Announced at the University of Cape Town's 2023 Strings Competition

25-year-old violinist Nicholas Bruiners was named the winner of around $1630 USD

The University of Cape Town (UCT), in South Africa, recently held the 2023 edition of its annual Strings Competition. Open to all string players currently studying at the university, as well as incoming students and alumni who graduated from 2018 onwards, the competition offers a range of cash prizes to its winners.

First prize, which is worth 30,000 in South African Rand ($1630), went to the 25-year-old South African violinist Nicholas Bruiners. A current student of Farida Bacharova, Bruiners is studying for an honors degree at UCT, and is also a member of the first violin section in the Cape Town Philharmonic. During his undergraduate degree, he received the university's Chamber Music Prize, the Leonard Hall Prize, and the Alfred Libochowitz Prize.

Violinist Rebekah Beelders and cellist Chris Njapha were named the competition's runners-up, and each received a prize of R 17,000 ($925). There was also a prize for the best semi-finalists, cellist Seul Pearl Jung and violist Micaela Arries, who were each given R 4,000 ($215).

In 2023, the jury comprised violinist Johanna Roos, conductor Bernhard Gueller, and pianist François du Toit.

"I’m feeling mostly relieved that’s it’s over," Nicholas Bruiners said. "It’s been a very stressful week and a half. But mostly, I’m very proud of myself!"