Eastern Cape Pianist Takes South African Talent to the UK Stage

Photo Credit: Nelson Mandela University via Facebook

With music shaped by family, dedication to his craft and a deep love for storytelling through sound, Nelson Mandela University pianist Mathew Draai is currently bringing South African talent and Eastern Cape pride to the prestigious British Isles Music Festival.

Sherborne, United Kingdom (15 July 2026) – The talent of young South Africans is undisputed, and a young pianist currently wowing UK crowds at the prestigious British Isles Music Festival (BIMF) is a beautiful testament to that.

Fourth-year Nelson Mandela University Bachelor of Music (BMus) student Mathew Draai is representing South Africa on the global stage this July, showcasing the high calibre of musical talent emerging from the Eastern Cape.

As Mathew takes the stage and plays on the keys, his goal is simple yet powerful: to show that South African musicians can stand shoulder to shoulder with young artists from anywhere in the world.

Mathew’s diverse programme comprises a solo work, a duet and a trio. His repertoire includes Chopin’s Ballade No. 3, Schumann’s Three Fantasy Pieces for Piano and Clarinet, Op. 73, and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 1, highlighting both his solo and collaborative performance skills.

According to NMU, it was Mathew’s audition recording of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5 that paved the way to this incredible global opportunity. He had performed the same piece at one of the lunchtime concerts hosted by the University’s Department of Music and Performing Arts under the Faculty of Humanities. His performance impressed his lecturers so much that they encouraged him to audition for the UK music festival. Mathew seized the opportunity and carefully refined his performance.

“I told myself that even if I wasn’t accepted, I would at least have tried. Receiving the acceptance email, along with news that I had been awarded a bursary, was incredibly exciting and a real validation of the work I’ve put in,” the musician said ahead of the festival.

Mathew’s love of music was nurtured from an early age in a family with deep musical roots. His late grandfather played in church, one aunt is a retired piano teacher, and another serves as a church organist, with whom Mathew regularly performs.

His international gig kicked off this week and runs from 14 to 22 July. In the lead-up to the festival, Mathew remained dedicated to preparation while balancing an intensive practice schedule with completing an original composition and his fourth-year research treatise.

Mathew says he has always been drawn to music because of its ability to communicate emotion. Those privileged to witness his performances can expect a programme filled with contrast, ranging from the expressive lyricism of the Romantic period to the rhythmic intensity and wit of twentieth-century repertoire.

Head of the Department of Music and Performing Arts at MU, Dr Rudi Bower, commends Mathew as a diligent and highly focused musician who actively seeks opportunities to challenge himself and grow.

Mathew hopes the international experience will strengthen his path as both a solo and collaborative pianist while broadening his artistic perspective. As he shares:

“I want this experience to solidify my career as a versatile performer. Engaging with different musical traditions and perspectives will give me fresh insights that I can bring back home. Ultimately, I hope to use what I learn to continue raising my own standards and one day contribute to developing the next generation of South African pianists and music educators.”