Jordan Brooks, a violin student of the Beau Soleil Music Centre in Kenilworth, was crowned overall winner of the prestigious National Youth Music Competition at a gala concert last week.
The annual competition draws top young musicians from all over the country who compete over four gruelling rounds, with only six finalists selected to perform a concerto with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jordan not only won the overall prize of a gold medal and R30 000 but also the prize for the best concerto performance in the final round for his rendition of the Sibelius violin concerto under the baton of Brandon Phillips, the concert master of the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as well as the Beau Soleil Senior String Ensemble.
Jordan has received master classes from several internationally renowned performers and teachers such as Marc Bouchkov, Alexander Gilman, Phillipe Graffin, Christina Brabetz, Gareth Lubbe and Andre Swanepoel.
Jordan is studying to make a career as a professional violinist and is a Grade 10 pupil at Westerford High School.