Talented George violinist Avigail Bushakevitz, 21, advanced through the semi-finals of the second Unisa National String Competition in Pretoria with flying colours on Tuesday and will compete with two other finalists tomorrow.

Pulling Strings: George violinist Avigail Bushakevitz, 21, accompanied by the Johannesburg Philharmonic, competes in the finals of the second Unisa National String Competition in Pretoria.

The musicians will perform with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, under the experienced baton of Dutch conductor Arjan Tien, for the R50000 first prize.

“Avigail has wonderful talent,” said Dot Field of sponsors Vodacom.

“She is one of the most assured competitors, with sensitive musical interpretations and outstanding virtuosity.”

Field said contestants had to perform a demanding 60 to 70 recitals of works of their own choice in Tuesday‘s semi-final.

“I‘m excited to have got through, but I‘m quite nervous about the finals and I will have to practice my concerto (Concerto in D minor, Op 47) like mad,” Bushakevitz said yesterday.

She had found the standard of the competition very high as half of the 13 participants were studying music in England, the US and Germany and had come to South Africa specially to perform in the contest.

Bushakevitz studies under Sylvia Rosenberg at The Juilliard School of Music in New York, where she has just finished her third undergraduate year.

She started studying violin with Rhona Hennings in Knysna before studying for seven years under retired professor Jack de Wet of Stellenbosch. “I think it is important to acknowledge (his) talent, as all three finalists studied under him,” she said.

De Wet‘s other students and finalists in the competition are Vicenti Espi, 22, of Cape Town, who is studying in England at the Northern College of Music in Manchester, and Jacqueline Wedderburn-Maxwell, 16, of Durban.

Bushakevitz and her equally talented brothers, pianist Ammiel, 23, and classical guitarist Benjamin, 24, have played musical instruments since they were small children, although Bushakevitz said neither her mother Leonore nor her late father Daniel studied music.

Bushakevitz said she would study in the US after completing her degree next year. “I think I will do my Masters degree in New York and then go to Europe, although I‘ll still come home from time to time.”

Bushakevitz is flying back to the US on Sunday to take part in the Aspen Music Festival.

As a finalist, she also qualifies for next year‘s fifth Unisa International String Competition.

By Cathy Dippnall

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