Graham du Plessis

BMus (Hons): University of Birmingham, MMus Performance: Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

Graham du Plessis is a cellist who enjoys performing a wide variety of music. As a soloist he has recently been nominated for Der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Critics Award) for a CD he recorded of the Lalo and Widor Cello Concertos. The disc (which features the first ever recording of the original version of the Widor - a work that hasn't been performed since the 19th century) also received a 5 star review from BBC Music Magazine. He has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, most recently with the Sofia Philharmonic and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestras.

Graham completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons) at the University of Birmingham and went on to complete his MMus specialising in cello performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was the recipient of the Eifion Evans award for musical excellence and the winner of the Cardiff Violins chamber music competition. As a teenager he was also a runner-up in the BBC Proms Young Composer competition.

After his studies Graham enjoyed performing chamber music throughout Europe, giving recitals in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, and in Ischia as a guest of Lady Walton (the late wife of the composer William Walton). He also worked with a variety of British orchestras including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and various chamber ensembles.

Graham has also appeared as a cellist in several mainstream films, recorded film and TV music for the likes of Universal, and he has performed and recorded music with a number of contemporary artists from a range of genres.

Since returning to South Africa in 2017, following many years overseas, Graham has enjoyed freelance work as a performer. He has appeared as a soloist in several European countries. In addition to this Graham is passionate about music education and is the Cello Lecturer at the University of Cape Town. In September 2023 he performed in China as part of the UCT Piano Trio, with colleagues Associate Professor Farida Bacharova and Associate Professor François du Toit.