For 16-year-old Dilara Yilmaz, music is more than mastering notes and perfecting technique.

It is about finding the emotion behind a composition and sharing it with an audience. The Grade 11 learner at De La Salle Holy Cross College in Victory Park has already made an impressive mark on South Africa’s classical music scene, winning Category D of the Victoria K Bennett Music Competition and earning selection as one of 28 young musicians nationwide for the National Youth Music Competition (NYMC) in Stellenbosch in December.

Her success is the result of years of dedication, countless hours of practice and a deep love for the cello, an instrument she describes as having a rich, warm sound that comes remarkably close to the human voice. “I enjoy being able to feel the raw emotion a composer was trying to express and then pass that same feeling on to an audience,” she said. “For me, music is a gift that’s meant to be shared.”

Although she has only played the cello for four years, music has been part of Dilara’s life since early childhood. She began piano lessons at three, took up the violin at six and briefly tried the flute and clarinet before realising that woodwind instruments were not for her. After six years playing violin, she was ready for a change. At her mother’s suggestion, she tried the cello, immediately drawn to its distinctive sound.

Winning the Victoria K Bennett Music Competition was a moment she had long dreamt about. “I was absolutely ecstatic. It had always been a dream of mine just to take part in a competition as prestigious as the VKB, let alone win it,” she said.

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Dilara performed an extensive programme across three rounds, culminating in a gala evening. Her selections included Monti’s Czardas, Fauré’s Après un rêve, Popper’s Polonaise de Concert, the third movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto and the second movement of Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata.

Several of the pieces had already featured in her external music examinations, giving her a solid foundation. However, she also made a point of performing for teachers, family and friends before the competition to help manage her nerves. The preparation paid off. Dilara was named the winner across all instruments in her age category, not only among string players – recognition she regards as particularly meaningful. “Comparing different instruments is incredibly difficult, because each one has its own unique and beautiful character,” she said. “Being chosen as the winner across all of them is something I’m very grateful for.”

The achievement also reinforced her belief that musical expression can connect with listeners regardless of the instrument being played. Her next challenge is the National Youth Music Competition, where she will perform 10 pieces across four rounds at Endler Hall in Stellenbosch. The programme includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Fauré, Elgar, Shostakovich, Popper and Monti, among others. When news of her selection arrived, Dilara was studying for an Afrikaans examination scheduled for the following day. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I couldn’t stop jumping up and down with joy.”

For Dilara, the competition offers more than the chance to win. Classical music can sometimes feel like a solitary pursuit at school, she explained, making opportunities to meet other young musicians who share her commitment especially valuable. She is preparing by practising for at least two hours every day, with consistency as her main focus. Performing before a live audience is also an important part of her preparation, helping her build the confidence needed to deliver her best on stage.

Reaching the final would bring another dream within reach: performing a concerto with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The prospect is particularly special because she hopes to perform Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a work closely associated with her musical role model, Jacqueline du Pré. “Performing as a soloist with a professional orchestra has always been one of my biggest goals,” she said. “Playing the Elgar Cello Concerto with them would be especially meaningful and I would be truly honoured.”

Despite her demanding musical schedule, Dilara has found an unusual way to balance her commitments with schoolwork. Rather than viewing practice as another task competing for her time, she often uses it to unwind. “Playing calms me down and helps me reset before I go back to my books,” she said. Careful planning helps her manage school, music and her other interests, which include hiking, cycling, football, chess, reading and coding. When schoolwork becomes particularly demanding, she makes up practice time over the weekend.

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Behind her progress is her cello teacher Peta-Ann Holdcroft and piano teacher and accompanist Elise Lemmer, whom she credits with helping her grow both musically and personally. Her parents have also played an essential role, supporting her through lessons, rehearsals and competitions.

As she considers her future, Dilara has not yet decided whether she will pursue music professionally. Engineering is another field that interests her, but she hopes to discover just how far her cello can take her. “If I stay committed, I’d love to become a soloist, travel the world, perform with orchestras and share my passion for music with audiences everywhere,” she said.

Whatever career she eventually chooses, she hopes music will remain part of her life. For now though, her sights are firmly set on Stellenbosch, where she hopes to gain valuable experience, learn from fellow young performers and, above all, communicate the beauty of classical music. She wants audiences to understand that her journey has not been built on a single winning performance, but on years of steady work and the encouragement of those who believe in her, and if her journey so far is any indication, this young cellist has plenty more music to share.

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