The Schock Foundation was established by the late Judge Philip Schock to assist and support charities and educational institutions in South Africa.
The SACM has a long and proud tradition of chamber music training. Up to 2006, the course was convened by Assoc Prof François du Toit, from 2007-2021, the convener was Dr Becky Steltzner, and from 2022, it is convened again by Assoc Prof François du Toit. The students do four projects per year; three can be individual movements, but one must be a full work. All projects are examined in public concerts.
It is from the full-work exams that the finalists for this competition have been chosen. We would like to thank our “support base” for this competition:
PRELIMINARY ROUND: Wednesday 23 September 2026, Chisholm Recital Room (C7), from 10am onwards (to be confirmed)
FINAL ROUND: Friday 2 October 2026, Baxter Concert Hall, 7pm
2025 Isaac van der Merwe, Nicholas Bruiners, Helen Liu, Micaela Arries, Ashlin Grobbelaar Shostakovich Piano Quintet, Op. 57
2024 Lily van der Merwe, Pieter Joubert, Lusanti Brundyn, Kristin Leith, Chris Njapha Amy Beach Theme and variations Op. 80
2023 Pieter Joubert, Rebekah Beelders, Kristin Leith, Reece Allum Grieg String Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27
2022 Nicholas Bruiners, Kaitlin Visser Downie, Micaela Arries, Ashlin Grobbelaar Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73
2021 Nicholas Bruiners, Kaitlin Visser Downie, Kristin Leith, Nicola McLachlan Schubert, String Quartet in D minor, “Death and the Maiden”
2020 Joshua Louis, Nicholas Bruiners, Uliana Alekseev, Rory Africa, Nicola McLachlan Mendelssohn, String Quintet No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 87
2019 Bonolo Kgaile, Shannon Cook, Uliana Alekseev, Jessica Scott Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
2018 Paul Loeb van Zuilenburg IV, Tessa Campbell, Osamu Nakada, Seul Pearl Jung Hofmeyr, String Quartet No. 1
2017 Sakhile Humbane, Paul Loeb van Zuilenburg IV, Kevin Kim Rota, Trio
2016 Lucy Strauss, Julian Schübel, Soyoung An, Bronwyn van Wieringen Cage, Credo in Us
2015 Samantha Durrant, Seul Pearl Jung, Bronwyn van Wieringen Shostakovich, Trio No. 1, Op. 8
2014 Sangwoo Jun, Matthew Ferrandi, Francois Botha Bartók, Contrasts
2013 Sangwoo Jun, Matthew Ferrandi, Francois Botha Khachaturian, Trio
2012 Frances Brand, Carl Ashford, Zimasa Gysman, Matthew Ferrandi Uhl, Divertimento
2011 Anna van der Merwe, Aristide du Plessis, Francois Botha Shostakovich, Piano Trio No. 2 in e minor, Op. 67
2010 Annelize de Villiers, Aristide du Plessis, Jane Yu Brahms, Trio in A minor, Op. 114
2009 Nadine Roussopoulos, Aristide du Plessis, Olga Rademan Dvořák, Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 “Dumky Trio”
2008 Justin Carter, Edward McLean, Clinton Claassen Brahms, Trio in A minor, Op. 114
R55 000 of Prizes to be won
The competition is adjudicated by a panel of widely recognised and experienced professional musicians. Previous adjudicators have included: Dr Becky Steltzner, Prof Albie van Schalkwyk, Assoc Prof Farida Bacharova, Bernhard Gueller, Sandra Kettle-Loubser, Petrus Coetzee.
