JENNY BRAND. Jenny Brand started learning the clarinet under Werner Dannewitz in Pietermaritzburg, where she played in the Natal Youth Orchestra and Wind Band. She completed her Bachelors of Music Bachelors of Music (Hons) degrees at the University of the Free State (UFS), under Heinrich Armer. During her studies, she completed the UVLM (UNISA) and was invited to play for the UNISA Licentiate competition for overseas studies. During her studies, she performed as a soloist in the PACOFS annual Youth Concerto Festival, won the UFS Music Prize and was the winner of the Woodwind Section of the ATKV Forte Music Competition. She played in the Free State Youth Orchestra and in SANYO for several years, as well as the PACOFS Orchestra. After her studies she taught at the College for the Arts in Windhoek, Namibia, and later returned to Bloemfontein where she taught at the Musicon for a number of years. She relocated to Grahamstown (Makhanda) in 2010, where she is currently a full-time music educator at Kingswood College. She is the principal clarinettist of the ECPO, an avid chamber musician and the founding member of The Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet.

ANNAMARIE BAM.  Annamarie Bam is based in Somerset West, with her husband and two daughters. She graduated with a Bachelors of Music and a Bachelors of Music (Hons) degree, from the University of the Free State (UFS), studying with Harold Strebel in Cape Town and Heinrich Armer in Bloemfontein. She won the overseas scholarship for her Performer’s Licentiate from the Royal Schools of Music and continued her studies at the Royal Academy in London under John Davies, Richard Addison and Anthony Pay. She also attended masterclasses by Karl Leister in London and Guy Deplus in Nice. Her orchestral experience began at an early age in Bloemfontein where she joined various wind bands and also the PACOFS Orchestra. On her return from London, she joined the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (now KZNPO) and later took up a full-time teaching post at the Musicon in Bloemfontein. Annnamarie is an experienced chamber musician and believes in changing people’s lives by teaching a love for music and the discipline of playing an instrument. She has her own music practice in Somerset West and Stellenbosch, where she teaches pre-school recorder and clarinet to students of all ages. She is also a part-time lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch Music Department.

GRANT SNYMAN. Grant Snyman is currently enrolled as a DPhil candidate at Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha. After matriculating from Grey High School, he went on to complete his Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance (cum laude) and his Masters of Music Degree in Choral and Orchestral Conducting. Grant was the recipient of the Charles Bryars’ Scholarship, two merit awards for 'Academic Excellence' in the Faculty of Humanities, and received several academic and SAMRO bursaries for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. He also holds the prestigious NIHSS-SAHDU Scholarship for his research in 'Southern African' music (2021-2023). Grant has performed both nationally and internationally, taking part in several National Youth Orchestra courses, international chamber music festivals and competing in national music competitions. He has had the privilege of performing before the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the late Ahmed Kathrada. He has participated in several master classes from internationally acclaimed clarinetists such as Carina Washington, Ferdinand Steiner, Yevgeny Petrov, Valdemar Rodriguez, Dr Danre Strydom and Prof Eddy Vanoosthuyse. In 2014, Grant toured and performed as part of the MIAGI Youth Orchestra to Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Amsterdam; and in 2017, travelled to New York City (USA) as part of the Kwazulu-Natal Youth Wind Orchestra where they achieved a gold medal at the International Wind Symphony Competition in Carnegie Hall. Grant is an active orchestral and chamber musician who is currently the second clarinettist of the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and member of The Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet. Furthemore, he holds both an Associate (ATCL) and Licentiate (LTCL) from Trinity College London with distinction.

ANTHONY DRAKE. Anthony Drake is a clarinettist and saxophonist who hails from London, UK. He holds a Bachelors of Music degree from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), and a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. In England, Anthony’s professional work included performances with renowned ensembles including the Galliard Ensemble, Canterbury Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Santa Dorothea and the Central Band of the Royal British Legion. He was also a music lecturer as part of the University of East London (UK), the Open University and Havering College. In 2012, he moved to South Africa and took up the position of Co-Principal Clarinet with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. Anthony is the former Head of Music of Cambridge Primary School (East London), the former Head and Program Manager of Keiskamma Music Academy (Hamburg, SA) and is the founder and current Executive Director of Incopho Development Project – a rural NGO with a focus on youth empowerment and music education in the small town of Cathcart.

LANCE THUYNSMA. Lance Thuynsma, is a Cape Town based clarinettist (a music educator at SACS Junior School) whose musical journey began in the New Apostolic Church. At the age of 13, he began clarinet lessons with Warren Patientia at Athlone Academy of Music and continued until the completion of his high school career. He then enrolled at the University of Cape Town and graduated with a Bachelors of Music (2016) and a Postgraduate Diploma (2018) in Clarinet Performance, under the tutelage of Dr. Becky Steltzner. Lance has participated in several of the university’s ensembles, leading the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and playing Principal Clarinet in the Symphony Orchestra. He also participated in the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival and South African National Youth Orchestra. In 2018, he toured Europe with the MIAGI Youth Orchestra, performing in the Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw and Elb Philharmonie. He has had masterclasses from respected clarinettists, including Marcus Eley, Robert Pickup, Michael Hesselink, Arno Pieters, Olivier Patey and Ferdinand Steiner. He also received online lessons from Junnan Sun, Petar Kolevski and Charles Neidich when he participated in the online Qvadrivium Clarinet Academy (2020).