The Westhuizen Duo’s performances
have been described as “…music-making that rewards you seventy times seven.”
They have been hailed by audiences and critics alike for their “…excellent
sensitivity for each other..,” combined with playing that is “…charming,
lyrical, and brilliant…” (Volksblad,
South Africa).
The duo has presented concerts in all the major concert halls of
South Africa, and has appeared in major festivals and venues throughout the
USA. South Africans Pierre van der Westhuizen and Sophié Grobler completed their
studies at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. Here they studied
with renowned professor Frank Weinstock, as well as the legendary piano duo
Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff. They were the first piano-duo to be accepted into
the prestigious PianoTexas International
Academy and Festival (formerly known as the TCU/Cliburn Institute), where
they received masterclasses from Harold Martina, John Owings, Jan Jiraceck and
the legendary Janos Starker.
In the summer of 2007 they were the first duo to
be featured as Shouse Artists at the Great
Lakes Chamber Music Festival in Michigan.
They have appeared at major festivals in South
Africa, including the Volksblad National
Arts Festival in Bloemfontein, the UNISA
Music Foundation Concert Series, and the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Their
performances have been heard on ClassicFm,
Radio Sonder Grense, WGTE (Toledo), WYSU, and WFMT (Chicago) Their
performance at the famous Dame Myra Hess
Memorial Concert Series in Chicago was broadcast live on NPR and PBS
Television.
Pierre and Sophié both serve on the faculty of Heidelberg University
as Assistant Professors of Piano and Co-coordinators of the Keyboard Division.
The duo’s latest CD release, on AMP Records, features the complete works for
two pianos by Francis Poulenc.