Dr Liesl Stoltz

Liesl Stoltz began studying the flute at age 13 with Éva Tamássy at the University of Stellenbosch. In 1994 she was awarded a scholarship to study with Shigenori Kudo at the École Normale de Musique de Paris: Alfred Cortot where she also studied with Pierre-Yves Artaud, Jean Ferrandis and Chantal Debushy. Here she was awarded the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste de flûte and Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste de Musique de Chambre (à l’unanimité). She furthered her studies in Italy at the Accademia Internazionale Superiore di Musica: Lorenzo Perosi with Swiss maestro Peter-Lukas Graf and obtained the Concert Diploma in flute in 2001. In South Africa she was awarded the degrees MMus (2003) and DMus (2010) by the University of Cape Town.

Liesl was fortunate to receive scholarships from various institutions for her overseas studies. These scholarships include: Bill Venter/FAK music scholarship; SAMRO; Oppenheimer Memorial Trust; FAK; South African Society of Music Teachers; École Normale de Musique de Paris. 

Liesl won various international awards including first prize in the 12th Friedrich Kuhlau International Flute Competition in Germany (2007), 3rd place in the International Flute Competition in Timisoara, Romania (2007), finalist in the Leonardo de Lorenzo International Flute Competition in Italy (2005), and second prize winner at the Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Bucharest, Romania (1999). Local prizes include ATKV Forté Music prize (overall winner - 1999), SAMRO Music Prize (second prize – 2000), Huguenot Music Competition (winner – 1995) to name a few.

In 2011 Liesl continued with post-doctorate studies at the University of Cape Town which was generously funded by the AW Mellon foundation. The aim of her project was to promote South African composers and their works for flute. In 2012 she toured Europe with pianist François du Toit presenting concerts and workshops of South African flute music at the University of the Performing Arts (Vienna, Austria), Cité Universitaire de Paris, (France) and Cardiff University (Whales). In 2016 she was invited to give a recital at the French Flute Convention in Paris where she performed South African Flute music together with pianist José Dias. Her recording Explorations – South African Flute Music (recorded with pianists Francois du Toit, José Dias and Pieter van Zyl as well as harpist Jacqueline Kerrod) won the category “creative output” for the annual Humanities and Social Sciences awards from the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences in 2017. (This recording include works by South African composers Stefans Grové, Paul Loeb von Zuilenburg, Roelof Temmingh, Hubert du Plessis, Hendrik Hofmeyr, Alexander Johnson, Peter KLatzow, Braam du Toit and Paul Hanmer)

Over the years she made various other recordings including French Flute Music, Histoire du Tango (with Portuguese classical guitarist, Pedro Rodrigues), Vuurvoël (with Magdalene Minnaar and Mario Nell) and most recently Recital (together with pianist Albie van Schalkwyk). 

At present she performs extensively as soloist and chamber musician and is a part-time lecturer in flute at the University of Cape Town and Reddam Durbanville High School. She is guest principal flute of the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra. Liesl regularly acts as external examiner at academic institutions and as adjudicator for local eisteddfods and music competitions. She performed as a soloist with all major orchestras in South Africa. Over the years she has given numerous solo recitals together with duo partner Albie van Schalkwyk. Her trio Trio du Cap Classique was formed in 2018 with cellist David Pinoit and pianist François du Toit. Since their formation the trio toured extensively in South Africa performing at Universities and music festivals.