Renchia’s sweet chords hit the right notes every time
Violinist and organist at the Reformed Church Pietersburg, Renchia Grobbelaar-Venter (29) is not only passionate about music in general, but plays instruments such as the classical guitar and piano.
POLOKWANE – Renchia is also a representative of Limpopo for Southern African Church Organist Association (SAKOV) and a music teacher at PEPPS.
She started playing piano in Gr 1, guided by her father’s sister, Marisa Linde. Growing up, she attended primary school at Akademie Reformia and high school at Hoërskool Pietersburg where she matriculated in 2007.
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After matric, Renchia went to study a performance licentiate in church organ course at at Unisa and graduated in 2011. Throughout her music career, Renchia has performed and been part of an orchestra where she performed with the Stellenbosch Chamber Music Festival as first violinist in July 2009, 2013 and 2016, Sempre Opera (principal second violinist), Unisa Music Foundation Orchestra from 2010 to 2013. She has also performed with the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2012.
“This is where I was assistant concertmaster in 2012 and principal second violin in 2010 and 2011,” she added. She competed in more events such as the South African National Youth Orchestra (Sanyo) in 2009 and also played the solo organ part of Alexander Guilmant’s Organ Symphony (first movement) with the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra (Upso). In high school, she played in the youth orchestra, Simfonia Juventi (Youth Orchestra) from 2003 to 2007.
“I appreciate my teachers, Srdjan Cuca, Zanta Hofmeyer and Hans Kruger for grooming me to be a better musician,” she said.
Renchia has completed her examination at Unisa and has an Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) diploma in performance: violin. Renchia started working at PEPPS College in 2017 as a music teacher and says she’s privileged to be part of a lovely team, who has the opportunity to try and help create a better tomorrow for others and at the same time, provide herself with a greater tomorrow.
“As an accredited Unisa music teacher, I also teach classical guitar, piano and violin at my own music studio with 28 students,” she added.
When Renchia performs on stage, one of her biggest fans is her husband, Danie who does not miss any show she performs at.
“I would advise young musicians to work hard and never give up. Music is such an enrichment in our lives. Music is an expression of a person. I adore music, it brings happiness, joy and confidence to everyone and everywhere. It unites people.
“I love music because there is no other medium quite like it that can display emotion so well. You want to pull at someone’s heart strings? There is a song for that,” she said.
