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Blaine Josephs (tenor) & Alex Beaven (piano)

Programme

Richard Strauss 8 Gedichte aus ‘Letzte Blätter’, Op.10

Arnold Van Wyk Vier Weemoedige Liedjies

Claude Debussy Selected songs from Ariettes oubliées, L. 60

i. C’est l’extase langoureuse

iv. Chevaux de bois

vi. Spleen

Francis Poulenc Les Chemins de l’amour, FP. 106

Blaine Josephs is a 23-year-old South African tenor. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Stellenbosch (2020), Josephs is currently pursuing an honours degree majoring in vocal performance under the tutelage of Lauren Dasappa. During his undergraduate degree Josephs studied piano under Lourens Fick and Luis Magalhães. Josephs has recently started performing with the Cape Town Opera chorus on an ad hoc basis for the recent recording of Monteverdi’s “Vespers” as well as the Artscape 50^th celebration. Josephs has performed as tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah a collaboration between Canticum Novum and the Stellenbosch University Symphony orchestra (2017). He has also performed with the Stellenbosch University Vocal Ensemble which premiered the very first St. John’s Passion written in Afrikaans, a work by Professor Winfried Lüdemann tilted “Die Kruisiging” (2017). Josephs has further performed as a soloist in Cape Town Opera’s collaboration with the Stellenbosch University voice division in their rendition of “The Fairy Queen” by Purcell (2018). Blaine has been a member of the chorus in AGL Operas rendition of Der Fledermaus and The Merry Widow (2018 and 2019). Josephs was a member of the chorus for Verdi’s La Traviata which was showcased at the US Woordfees (2020). Josephs has also performed as soloist with the Stellenbosch University Jazz Band and The Stellenbosch University Wind Band. He was also a member of the Stellenbosch University Chamber Choir and toured with the choir to Hong Kong and Germany.

Alexandra Beaven began her studies with Prof Nina Schumann at Stellenbosch University in 2016 and completed her BMus degree at the end of 2019, specialising in piano accompaniment. During the course of her undergraduate studies, she has received masterclasses at the Stellenbosch International Piano Symposium from pianists including Francois du Toit, Catherine Foxcroft, Grethe Nöthling, Tessa Rhodie and Luis Magalhães. In addition to this, she has been selected twice to perform at the Stellenbosch University/UCT piano exchange. In 2019, Alexandra became the first ever piano accompanist to win the Mabel Quick Instrumental Bursary Competition, in addition to receiving the Betsie Cluver Scholarship award for the overall best achievement in piano as a principal instrument. Other bursary awards for academic and practical achievements include bursaries from both the National Arts Council, (2020 and 2021) and the Myra Chapman trust (2020). At the beginning of 2020, Alexandra was invited to perform at the Purpur festival of the Transgressive Arts alongside pianist Liza Joubert. Alexandra is in the process of completing her MMus degree, specialising in piano accompaniment under Prof Nina Schumann, in addition to working as an assistant lecturer to the piano department.