“Exceptional pianism through evocative coloring” and “superlative interpretative abilities” (Grahamstown Festival CUE Magazine,
2011) are phrases used to describe the playing of South African pianist Sophia (Grobler) van der Westhuizen, who made her debut as soloist with the South African National
Chamber Orchestra at age 18. She started piano at age 4 and later majored in both piano and violin as undergraduate student. She was the winner of numerous
prizes, awards and scholarships during the course of her studies. She continued her studies in the U.S., with her major teachers Frank Weinstock, Caroline
Oltmanns and Truida van der Walt. Sophia continues to perform internationally as soloist and collaborative pianist.

Sophia is also part of the Westhuizen piano duo, with her husband Pierre van der Westhuizen. As duo, they
have performed across the U.S.and South Africa, where they also teach master classes. They were in residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Summer Sonata Festival in 2010 as performers, teachers and judges. Their interest in New Music has led them to premiere numerous works by young South
African and American composers. They were the first piano duo to receive fellowships as Young Artists at the prestigious PianoTexas International
Academy and Festival, and were Shouse Artists at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival in 2007, sharing the stage with artists such as Ann
Schein, Wu Han, Jeremy Denk and James Tocco. They have received master classes from artists such as Emanuel Ax, Janos Starker, James Tocco, The Pridonoff Duo, Alan and Alvin Chow and Awadagin Pratt. Their performances were heard on WGTE (Toledo), Radio sonder Grense and ClassicFM. They featured as guest artists at the Volksblad Arts Festival, Grahamstown National Arts Festival, UNISA concert series and Northwest University in South
Africa, as well as OSU/Port Clinton Arts Festival in Ohio, Firelands Concert Series, Lakeside Summer Music Festival, St. Mary's College
in Indiana and the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, which was broadcast live on NPR. The
duo has just released a recording of Francis Poulenc’s music for two pianos for AMP Recordings.(www.westhuizenduo.com)

Other collaborations include recitals and an upcoming recording project with German violinist Annette-Barbara Vogel (www.annette-barbara-vogel.de),
as well as recitals and festival appearances soprano Maribeth Crawford, mezzo-soprano Reneé Clair, and Carol Dusdieker. Her work with violinist Ioana
Galu has led to performances and master classes at festivals in Romania. Sophia has also been invited to perform and teach master classes at the University of Northern Colorado International Piano Festival.

Sophia’s academic research includes the development of the piano waltz as it lead to Ravel's La Valse - a work which is often interpreted to represent the “death” of the waltz. She has lectured on this topic at the College Music Society’s National Conference in Atlanta, GA in 2008. She also has a special interest in New Music which started during her undergraduate studies in South Africa where she often performed works by South African composers. She has performed in numerous New Music Festivals in Cincinnati, at Heidelberg University and in South Africa, with featured composers such as Karel Husa, P.Q. Phan, Rzewski and Kaia Saarijaho.

Sophia has served on the faculty of Heidelberg University as Assistant Professor of Piano and Co-Coordinator of the Keyboard Division, and currently teaches piano at Youngstown State University.