Sophié van der Westhuizen
Professor, Kalamazoo College
“Exceptional pianism through evocative coloring” and “superlative interpretative abilities” (CUE Magazine, 2011) describes the playing of South African pianist Sophié van der Westhuizen. She currently holds a piano teaching position at Kalamazoo College and maintains a large private studio. She is a Steinway Artist and performs internationally as both soloist and collaborative pianist, with a specialization in piano duo with her husband Pierre, as the Westhuizen Duo.
The duo most recently appeared in recital throughout Michigan, and as soloists with the Kalamazoo Symphony. They regularly appear in residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Summer Sonata Festival as guest artists and teachers, and at the Colorado International Piano Festival, Chautauqua Piano Institute, Kent State University Piano Institute, and College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, among others. They received fellowships as Young Artists at the PianoTexas International Academy and Festival, and were Shouse Artists at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. Their performances are regularly broadcast on radio, including NPR, WCLV, WGTE, and ClassicFM (South Africa), and they are often featured as guest artists at music festivals across the globe. Their performance on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, with live broadcast on NPR, remains a highlight. They were the featured guest artists at the 85th Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival in concerto and recital, and made their New York debut at Steinway Hall. The duo recorded Francis Poulenc’s music for two pianos for AMP recordings.
Van der Westhuizen has served on the faculty of Heidelberg University, Youngstown State University, The Music Settlement, Aurora School of Music and Cleveland State University. She also served as director of ArtsConnect, a community outreach program for the Cleveland International Piano Competition, and is currently the chair of the music committee and board member of the Stulberg International String Competition. She is also a member of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia as violist.