Vivianna Shmanova Pearson, her sister Naomi and Sue Paterson-Jones
After the week-long Western Cape Piano Festival held at Westerford High School, musical siblings Vivianna Shmanova Pearson and Naomi, from Newlands and both students of Sue Paterson-Jones from a very young age, were awarded the Top Senior and Junior Pianist Awards.
On Sunday, they played at the awards concert held at Westerford High School Music Centre. The Western Cape Piano Festival is the brainchild of Shane Goodall of the Shane Goodall Piano Studio. Brigit Penny, Head of Music at Westerford High School, is hoping that the Western Cape Piano Festival will become an annual event at the school’s new Imbewu Music Centre.
Vivianna, 18, was recently awarded the Top Pianist award at this year’s Jan Van Riebeek, Pieter Kooij Music Competion, as well as walking away overall winner.
The sisters were also awarded Top Pianist Awards at this year’s Afrikaans Eistedffod and have been invited to both play at the awards concert to be held next month.
Naomi, 10, Grade 4 pupil at Constantia Waldorf Primary School, also plays the violin.
Vivianna, a matric pupil at Westerford High, will be attend this year’s Atterbury National Piano Competition in Pretoria, for which she was awarded second place overall last year. The gifted musician intends pursuing a music degree at the University of Cape Town.