The Stellenbosch University (SU) Conservatoire honoured the musician Ronnie Samaai, from Paarl, with the prestigious Parnassus Award on Saturday evening (1 October).
This award is given to a musician who has made a significant contribution in the field of music in South Africa. It was established in 2005, and is only awarded when a suitable candidate is nominated.
The name refers to the Greek mountain Parnassus, which, according to mythology, is the home of the muses of poetry, music and education. Previous winners include, among others, the conductor Richard Cock, piano professor Joseph Stanford, and cellist Marian Lewin.
Samaai, who celebrated his 80th birthday this year, received the award on Saturday at a concert of the SU Symphony Orchestra in the Music Department's Endler Hall.
Prof Winfried Lüdemann, Chair of the Music Department, awarded the prize to Samaai, saying that it is given to him for his impressive career in music. "Ronnie Samaai is now part of the muses on Mount Parnassus. He is like a much-admired statesman in music and an example of the kind of South African to which we all should aspire."
In reaction, Samaai said: "I can only say thank you. I just do my job, and I do it to the best of my abilities. I want to dedicate this award to my family."
Earlier this year, Samaai received the kykNET Fiësta Award for his life-long contribution to music in South Africa. The Klein-Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) also gave him a Kanna Award for his contribution to the arts in 2011.
Samaai completed his schooling in Paarl, after which he received a teacher's certificate from the Athlone Institute. He was involved in education for 40 years, of which 20 years at the Bellville Teaching College, where he was head of the music department as well as vice-rector.
He is well-known as a violin teacher and was awarded licentiates from the London Trinity College of Music and the Royal School of Music. He also completed a BMus degree in musicology at Unisa.
In 1997, he established the Western Cape Music Education Project in Kuils River where young children from the community receive music training.
Samaai has been a member of the board of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra for the past ten years.
Caption: Ronnie Samaai (right) with Prof Lize van Robbroeck, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
