Kyrah’s winning programme included two movements from acclaimed South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr, who is now composing a marimba concerto especially for her!
Pretoria, South Africa (27 October 2026) – Kyrah Adams is a gifted young percussionist from Paarl who is in her second year of a Bachelor of Music degree at Stellenbosch University, where she studies under lecturer Suzette Brits.
This month, on 15 and 16 October, Adams and Brits travelled to the Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall in Pretoria for Adams’ participation in this year’s UNISA South African Music Scholarship Competition.
There, Kyrah’s performance, which included Vivaldi’s Concerto in C major, Orient-Express by Nils Rohwer and two movements from acclaimed South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings, received three triumphant wins.
Kyrah was named the overall winner of the competition and received first prize – the UNISA South African Music Scholarship. She also obtained the UNISA Developing Artist Prize and the UNISA South African Composition Prize.
Stellenbosch University recognises her growing reputation as one of South Africa’s most promising classical performers.
“We are very proud of Kyrah and consider her a sterling ambassador of what the Department stands for. Winning three awards is an enormous achievement seldom attained.” says Dr Suzanne Martens, Chair of SU’s Music Department.
Kyrah says taking top honours came as a surprise. Despite a growing list of achievements in local competitions, she remains humble and follows her passion for music out of love.
“I love performing,” she explains. “I love getting to know myself better and better, making music and being present during every second of my performance.”
Last year, at the National Youth Music Competition, Adams performed works by Peter Klatzow and Keiko Abe. Brits says the extraordinary silence that followed was a defining moment for her student.
Related Stories
Over Seven Hundred People Bring Gabby Hope After a Devastating Crash
Cape Town Hikers Tackle 106km Challenge in Support of Mentorship Programme“After she played there was a silence hanging in the air; you could hear a few expressions of awe before the audience started with their applause. That was the moment I realised that she could touch an audience deeply.”
In the same competition a year earlier, Adams performed Hofmeyr’s concerto with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. She says that moment was a turning point for her artistic confidence.
“It was my first taste of true music-making,” she recalls.
At the UNISA South African Music Scholarship Competition this year, Adams and Brits obtained special permission to include Hofmeyr’s composition in the programme. Hofmeyr is now writing a second marimba concerto especially for Adams, expected to be completed by early 2027!
Getting to Pretoria took more than talent. The venue had no instruments suited to Adams’ programme, so Brits packed up the university’s marimba and xylophone and made the long road trip north herself.
Adams describes her teacher as one of her strongest supporters and says the performance would not have happened without her.
Good support has followed Adams from the start. Her grandfather, a guitarist, put a drum kit in her hands for the first time, and he and her mother encouraged her growing interest in music.
“My mother has always been my number one supporter and biggest inspiration. She attends my concerts whenever she can and she is always willing to make sacrifices for me and my career. I am eternally grateful for her.” says Kyrah.
Before starting her studies, Adams spent ten years in the studio of Annemie Nel at the Frank Pietersen Music Centre. Percussion has held her attention ever since.
Brits says that Kyrah is relentless in what she expects from herself.
Her sights are already set on international challenges. Stuttgart’s World Marimba Competition is on her list, and further down the line she hopes to found an international marimba competition in her home country.
Money is the biggest hurdle. Entering overseas competitions adds up quickly, and once she graduates, she will need her own concert-grade marimba, which can cost close to R1 million.
Brits is firm that Adams’ playing deserves a worldwide audience. Facing marimbists from other countries, she believes, is the surest way to widen a young player’s horizons.
“Without international exposure, future endeavors are more limited. International competitions will expose Kyrah to marimba players from all over the world with the same passion.” Brits says.
Adams wants to see classical marimba grow in South Africa and hopes to open doors for other young percussionists to compete abroad.
“I believe that the standard of musicians in South Africa can be just as good as the standard overseas,” she says.
by 
