Two Young SA Composers Make Africa's Top 5

Yolandi Botes
2 days ago
3 min read

🎼🌍🎼🌍🎼🌍🎼🌍🎼🌍

Two young South African composers have just done something pretty amazing, and one of them is from right here in the North West! 🥳 Nico Smit, a Grade 10 learner from Potchefstroom Gimnasium, and Lizé Briel, a Stellenbosch-based professional, have both cracked the Top 5 leaderboard in the European Recording Orchestra (ERO) Intercontinental Call-for-Scores. That’s not something you see every day! This is the first time two South Africans have made the African leaderboard at the same time, showing the world what our young orchestral talent is capable of.

Why the ERO leaderboard matters 🎬🎻

The ERO Call-for-Scores is no small-time thing. It’s run with the Film Scoring Academy of Europe and attracts entries from all over the globe, hundreds of them. Only the top five from each continent make the public leaderboard.

By making the cut, Lizé and Nico automatically earn:

A one-on-one lesson with a top Hollywood orchestrator, Dr Norman Ludwin
Access to 15 game-music scoring masterclasses
Discounts on expensive music software and tools
And... a chance to win a paid string recording session in Europe! 🎧

Meet the composers 🎶

🎓 Lizé Briel – Stellenbosch’s rising star

At just 25, Lizé is already the composer-in-residence for the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. She holds a master’s degree from Stellenbosch University.

She’s made waves internationally too, her piece Ocean Soundscape placed third in a UN-linked art competition and was exhibited in New York. Her ERO submission mixes African flutes with rich string textures, something she’s known for.

🧢 Nico Smit – Gimmie with a global ear

Then there’s Nico, known as Nicholas Smit on the leaderboard, but simply “Nico” or “Smuts” to his Potch classmates. He’s only in Grade 10 at Potchefstroom Gimnasium, but already turning heads.

He started composing at age 9, studied at NWU’s Conservatory, and by 12 had a piece performed by the NWU Symphony Orchestra. This year, he won first place in the International Youth Music Competition with The Birds and the Hunters.

For the ERO, he submitted a seven-minute suite inspired by the Vredefort Dome meteorite, adjudicators loved his “film-ready orchestral colours”. Talk about thinking big! ☄️

Why this is a big deal for South African music 🇿🇦🎼

1. A first for the continent

In the past, the African leaderboard was usually made up of composers from North and West Africa. This time, two out of five are South Africans – and that’s a proud moment for us all.

2. From school to stage

Lizé represents the university-trained pros. Nico is still in school. Together, they show that South Africa’s music talent pipeline is working, from classrooms to concert halls.

3. Local inspiration

Gimmies says more kids have signed up for arts classes since Nico’s news came out. Stellenbosch students also report more interest in orchestration classes after Lizé’s work was shown at the UN. It’s clear that young role models make a big difference.

What’s next for these two? 🎬🎻

Final judging in August – The top composer from each continent will win a recording session with a European string ensemble.
Global final in November – The six continental champs go head-to-head for a massive grand prize: a full 52-piece orchestra recording.

🎉 Potch Gimmies is already planning a “Music Monday” assembly to play Nico’s compositions. And Stellenbosch University will host a full evening of Lizé’s chamber works in September.

From Potch to the world 🌍🎵

From the Cape Winelands to the banks of the Mooi River, South African music is hitting all the right notes. Whether Lizé’s flute textures make it to Sofia or Nico’s meteorite suite gets its time to shine in Studio 1, one thing’s clear: Our young composers are stepping up, and the world is listening.