All posts by Roy van der Merwe
SONG 9 – OGAE SECOND CHANCE 2017 – HUNGARY
SPOTLIGHT ON SA ARTISTS – JOLANDA BECKER
After studying singing and music locally and internationally by means of international scholarships, Jolanda Becker opened the Jolanda Becker Vocal Lab in 2007 based in Centurion, South Africa. The main focus being on achieving vocal excellence and developing the individual musician as a whole package ready to take on the professional music industry.
Jolanda Becker has taught at various colleges including TUT – Musical Theatre Dept, TUT – Drama Dept, Stagedoor Showbusiness Academy, The South African Music Institute, whilst performing on national and international stages in various professional music productions, operas and musicals as well as corporate functions on the biggest stages throughout South Africa.
She has had many great success stories with numerous students getting recording deals and distribution deals at some of the biggest recording houses in S.A. as well as students performing on international and national stages in professional musical productions and television programs such as Idols and The Voice SA. She is also the vocal coach of Jasmyn who was the Eurovision Face and Voice Winner in 2011. Many students have also received international music scholarships from the best music departments in the world such as Berklee College of Music and New York Film Academy – Musical Theatre Dept. Many international singing competitions has also been won.
Music is an integral part of her life whether it is performing or working with artists in studio recording their albums and preparations for events and musicals.
She will be covering her first Eurovision song, and it will be the 2016 Czech Republic song ‘I stand’ . In Afrikaans the title is EK BLY STAAN.
SPOTLIGHT ON SA ARTISTS – FRIKKIE VAN BILJON
Frikkie started singing at the early age of 5. He delivered his first solo item at his church at the time. During his primary school years he participated in various Eistedfod competitions where he won several A++ certificates for singing.
In 1996 he took part in a community radio station’s talent competition where he was awarded a recording deal. Later that year he enrolled for vocal coaching at the North-West University’s Conservatorium where he studied singing. In the same year his parents moved to a small town, Mtubatuba, too far away for the record deal to be sealed.
During his high school years he did opening gigs for various South African artists, including (Jannie du Toit, Christa Steyn, Rina Hugo and Steve Hofmeyr). The ATKV awarded him for his promotion of Afrikaans music through singing.
After leaving high school he went off to university to study BSc. in Information Technology. In his first year he was selected to be part of the Alabama Student Group, but had to withdraw due to academic pressure. He took part in various accapella competitions where he was part of 12 groups over the course of 6 years.
He started writing music for these competitions and 6 of his works was part of the top 5 best songs over this time. He further took part in plays and also helped to write texts, plan concerts and conducting bands and choirs for 5 years.
In 2007 he formed part of a group, B#. The group went on to compete in the final rounds of the Artima Talent Competition at the North-West University.
After a long break from the music scene, he is back to live his dream. In 2017 he started vocal training with Jolanda Becker and was awarded 2 A++ certificates for the first competition he took part in. He released his first single (Altyd by my) which he co-wrote with Albert Short. The song is currently playlisted on 5 radio stations.
He further auditioned for an Afrikaans play (Uit diep van donker nagte) which is scheduled to run in October 2017 where he will be playing the lead role of Martin Luther.
Frikkie is married now for 6 years to his wife Corlia van Biljon and is the father of 2 children, Lisa & Gideon. He is a fulltime programmer and is the music director at his church (Alethea Ministry).
Frikkie is busy working on his first Eurovision cover and in the next 2-3 weeks we will be able to inform you which song it is (it is from 2017).
SONG 8 – OGAE SONG CONTEST 2017 – GREECE
SONG 7 – OGAE SECOND CHANCE 2017 – GERMANY
SPOTLIGHT ON SA ARTISTS – THE COLLETT TWINS
Born prematurely and incubated for several weeks, doctors expected the Collett twins to pass away within a month. They didn’t. Armed with her tape player and cassettes of Pavarotti, Simon and Garfunkel and Pink Floyd, their mother, Ahloma, spent her days playing them her favourite songs. Their deep-etched love for music started with those first notes in the NICU. Constantly surrounded by music throughout their lives, it is no surprise that they’ve recorded and released their self-titled début album, Colletts. They are a classically influenced duo with a cheeky streak of pop that delivers passionate harmonies – best described as pop-classic. Their repertoire includes evergreen hits from Josh Groban, Leonard Cohen, Brandi Carlisle as well as their own original Afrikaans songs.
Although only 25 years old, Bertus and Beyers already have quite impressive resumes. They took first and second place respectively at the IMTA (International Modelling and Talent Association) held in New York in 2010. Previous winners include Eva Longoria, Ashton Kutcher, Katie Holmes, Brandon Routh and Elijah Wood.
They have been the opening act for Boney M on their national tour in December 2011. In their short time performing, they’ve made the rounds at national arts festivals Aardklop and KKNK. They were also part of the popular Kersfees Skouspel where they performed alongside Elvis Blue and are regular faces at the Huisgenoot ATKV stages across the country.
For the immediate future, the twins are planning a CD which will include Eurovision covers (more on that when the songs are recorded).
SONG 6 – OGAE SECOND CHANCE 2017 – GEORGIA (Rest of the world)
SONG 5 – OGAE SECOND CHANCE 2017 – FINLAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4ZTQnhy754