Biography

Qden (15) started playing piano at the age of 8 and showed an interest in classical music from an early age.  Under the guidance of Shane Goodall, he has won many awards over the past few years. In 2016, he was a first prize winner for the Great Composers International Competition.  At the 2016 SAMRO Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition he won the first prize as well as the following category prizes: Piano, Best Baroque piece and Best Performance by a student of a SASMT member. In 2017 he performed as a soloist with The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, The Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, The Free State Symphony Orchestra and the Hugo Lambrechts Orchestra. He also performed in the Suidoosterfees with the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In the same year he performed as a guest artist at the Sun City Superbowl during the gala concert evening of the International Insurance Association.

In 2018 he won third prize in the 2018 Hennie Joubert Piano competition, first prize in the junior category of the 2018 Johann Vos Music Competition and second prize in The National Youth Music Competition. He also performed in the 2018 Suidoosterfees where he was awarded a trophy for the best classical performance. In March 2018 he was invited to Saarlouis, Germany where he performed in three concerts including a concerto performance with the German Police Orchestra.

In 2016, he was a first prize winner for the Great Composers International Competition.  At the 2016 SAMRO Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition he won the first prize as well as the following category prizes: Piano, Best Baroque piece and Best Performance by a student of a SASMT member.

In February 2019 he performed as a soloist with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in the Cape Town City Hall. In 2019 he also won the first prize in the Pieter Kooij Music Competition and in August 2019 he was the youngest artist ever to make a solo performance at the Klein Karoo Klassique.

In October 2019 he won the overall first prize in the Atterbury National Piano Competition where he was also awarded prizes for the best performances of Baroque, Classical and Romantic pieces.

In November 2016, Qden was one of ten children (and the first from Africa) selected from more than 500 applicants worldwide to attend the prestigious Allianz Music Camp in Warsaw, Poland, where he received a master class from acclaimed pianist, Lang Lang. He also received master classes from other international pianists, including Valentina Lisitsa, Gloria Campaner, Martina Bauer, Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy, Motoki Hirai, Spencer Myer, Nina Schumann, Luis Magalhaes, Liezl-Maret Jacobs and Jan Hugo.

Locally he has been featured on television including Espresso, eCNA, SABC2 and SABC3 news as well as local newspapers. Internationally he was interviewed on Polish television.

Qden loves composing classical music and also plays the violin.  He performed one of his compositions at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in March 2017