WATCH: Top Bassonia pianist Chanda Lupambo (17) is going places
The 17-year-old pianist has been chosen as one of the 20 contenders for this year's National Youth Music Competition which will take place from December 5 to 8 in Cape Town.
Authenticity in classical music means playing the piece as you feel and experience it without any boundaries.
This was the most frequently used sentence by Chanda Lupambo, a 17-year-old pianist who is one of seven Gauteng contenders for the 2022 National Youth Music Competition title.
The rising star said he was both excited and humbled to be chosen as one of the 20 contestants for this year’s competition which will take place from December 5 to 8. For Lupambo hard work pays off because he has been practising a lot and this is something he has always wanted to do.
Hailing from Bassonia, he is an only child. Chanda is a Grade 11 learner at Trinityhouse Glenvista and finished his primary school at St Martin’s.
His calling in life
Being a pianist grew on him. He grew to love it after spending a lot of time during the first year of learning to play the piano when he was 12.
Teresa Cronje, his piano teacher, was the person who inspired him the most. She has always been supportive, and she helped him to explore music.
“I usually get up at 04:00 to spend three to four hours practising the piano before going to school.”
In his spare time, this aspiring musician enjoys reading, especially about art, exploring as well as doing general teenage activities such as gaming.
According to Chanda, he has been performing a lot for the past couple of years.
“Being a good performer takes as much practice as being a good pianist. Of course, the first few performances were terrifying and sloppy, but with practice, you get better. As a pianist, performing in a theatre, you want to connect the music with the audience.”
Being a pianist
Chanda also enjoys playing the cello.
“I have been afforded an opportunity to play with cellists. If I hadn’t been a pianist, I would have been a cellist. The cello is one of the most beautiful instruments because it sounds like a human voice.”
He said the cello works extremely well with the piano because they both have the same range of sound.
“There is a lot of analysis that goes into playing the piano, such as petting the keys, but analysis requires you to know the harmony and every complex thing about the piece to be able to memorise it.”
Mpho believes being genuine, or being unique rather than copying other pianists, is one of the qualities of a great pianist.
“There are also other general qualities, such as technique and a deep understanding of music and phrasing, involved to become a good pianist. However, being genuine is critical.”
