Beoordelaar: Musiek – Vokaal /
Adjudicator: Music – Vocal
Werner Stander is ‘n jong opkomende koordirigent met ‘n klassieke kooragtergrond en ‘n passie vir rockmusiek genres. Hy was die klawerbordspeler in die Universiteit van die Vrystaat se rockgroep Collin Str. Hierdie groep het die 2006 en 2007 die Battle of the Bands Nasionale kompetisie onder universiteite gewen en is gereeld te sien op die MK-89 TV musiekkanaal. Collin Str. het twee albums opgeneem en word gehoor op OFM, Radio Rosestad en Kovsie FM. Hulle het al opgetree by meeste van die groot nasionale kunstefeeste. Werner se hoërskool groep, Alkoniek, het die Vrystaatafdeling van die nasionale Rockspider kompetisie gewen. Hul optrede daarna in 2005 by Aardklop was uitgesaai op M-Net.
In 2006 op ouderdom 18 word Werner die koorleier van die Cantu Maluti Jeugkoor en toer nasionaal en in Namibia met die koor. Hoogtepunte van die toer was optredes saam met die Kokopelli Koor (Canada), Mascato Coastal Jeugkoor (Namibia) en die COTA Jeugkoor (Windhoek). Werner het sedert 2006 met Cantu Maluti in die Kersfeesproduksie, A Festival of Carols, opgetree. Hy het al saam met Jannie Moolman en die Vrystaat se simfonieorkes gewerk en onder sy leiding het die koor gedurende die 2007 feesseisoen opgetree in ‘n 30 min SABC 2 television program, Hosanna.
Werner het ‘n BMus en BMus (Honeurs) Musiekgraad, lees vir ‘n Magistergraad in Koorleiding aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (toegeken in 2014) en studeer koorleiding onder Leona Geldenhuys, Hans Huyssen en Lance Phillip. Hy is tans die assistent-koorleier van die Odeion Koor, ‘n akademiese kamerkoor by die Universitieit van die Vrystaat se Odeion Musiekskool onder leiding van Lance Phillip. In Julie 2011 is Werner by die Universiteit van Toegepaste Wetenskappe in Jyvaskyla, Finland, aanvaar om sy studies in koorleiding voort te sit. In Januarie 2011 is Werner as Junior Lektor aangestel by die Odeion Musiekskool by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat waar hy spesialiseer in musiekopvoeding en gemeenskapsmusiek en sedert Januarie 2016 dien hy as deeltydse Lektor.
In April 2012 aanvaar Werner ‘n pos as koorleier en musiekonderwyser by Oranje Primêre Meisieskool in Bloemfontein. Onder sy leiding het die koor vir vier opeenvolgende jare die Goue Toekenning van die ATKV ontvang vir hul deelname aan die nasionale koorkompetisie Applous se streeksuitdunne. In 2017 is die koor saam met vyf ander kore in hul katagorie genooi om aan die finale rondte deel te neem in Pretoria. Die koor eindig 3de in Suid-Afrika uit ‘n totaal van 188 kore wat deelgeneem het aan die kompetisie. Hulle ontvang ook die toekenning vir die beste aanbieding van ‘n Afrikalied. Die koor word uitgenooi om deel te neem aan die 10de Wêreld Koorspele in 2018 en ontvang ‘n Goue Diploma (vlak III). Sedert sy aanstelling by Oranje het hy verskeie veranderinge gemaak tot voordeel van die musiekdepartement. Die koor het verdubbel in grootte en het die vertoonvenster geword vir veskeie top presterende koorlede se sukses by leidende nasionale kompetisies. Die koor het ‘n eerste prys by die Cantamus Koorfees in George in August 2016 gewen.
In August 2015 is Werner aangestel as koorleier by cantando@bloem, ‘n semi-professionele koor wat reeds hul tweede internasionale toer onderneem het en opgetree het in Italië en Oostenryk. Die koor het die toekenning vir beste nuwe musiekprestasie by die Vrystaat Kunstefees behaal met Mozart se Requiem. Sy repertorium as diregent sluit in J.S. Bach se motet Jesu meine Freude, Mozart se Spatzenmesse & Missa in honorem sanctissimae Trinitatis (beide met ‘n klassieke orkes), William Byrd se Mass for four voices, en Buxtehude se kantate siklus Membra Jesu nostri. Ter voorbereiding vir verdere nagraadse studies neem Werner sedert September 2015 lesse in dirigering by Martin Berger van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch en is hy aangestel as besoekende Lektor in Diensleer by die institusie.
Werner Stander is a young and upcoming conductor with a classical choral background and a passion for rock music genres. He was the keyboard player of the University of the Free State’s rock band Collin Str. This band won the 2006 and 2007 “Battle of the Bands” National competition, which was contested by all South African universities. Collin Str. can be frequently seen on the MK-89 TV music channel. They have recorded two albums and features on OFM, Radio Rosestad and Kovsie FM. They performed at most of the major national arts festivals. His high school band, Alkoniek, won the Free State division of the national Rockspider competition and performed at Aardklop in 2005; this latter performance was televised by M-Net.
Werner became the Director of the Cantu Maluti Youth Choir at the age of 18, in 2006, and toured with the choir both nationally and in Namibia; highlights included performances with the Kokopelli Choir (Canada), Mascato Coastal Youth Choir (Namibia) and COTA Youth Choir (Windhoek). Werner has participated with Cantu Maluti in the Christmas production, A Festival of Carols, since 2006. He has worked with Jannie Moolman and the Free State Symphony Orchestra. Under his direction the Choir was featured in a 30 min SABC 2 television programme, Hosanna, during the 2007 festive season.
Werner holds BMus & BMus (Hons) Music degrees, and read for a Master’s Degree in Choral Directing from the University of the Free State (awarded in 2014), and studied conducting with Leona Geldenhuys, Hans Huyssen and Lance Phillip. He is currently the assistant director of the Odeion Choir, an academic chamber choir at the UFS Odeion School of Music under the directorship of Lance Phillip. In July of 2011 Werner was accepted to the University of Applied Sciences in Jyvaskyla, Finland, to further his studies in choral directing. In January 2011 Werner was appointed as a Junior Lecturer in the Odeion School of Music at the University of the Free State, specializing in the field of music education and community music and since January 2016, he services as Lecturer (part time).
In April 2012, Werner accepted a post as a choral director and music teacher at Oranje Primary School for Girls in Bloemfontein, and under his direction the senior choir was awarded a Golden Award from the ATKV for four consecutive years, for their participation in their national choir competition (the regional festival), Applous. In 2017 the choir was invited to, with five other schools in their category; compete at the final round held in Pretoria. A total of 188 choirs took part in this year’s competition. The choir ended over all 3rd in South Africa and was also awarded the choir with the best presentation of an African song. This choir was also invited to take part in the 10th World Choir Games in 2018 and was awarded a Golden Diploma level III. Since his appointment, he has introduced many new changes to the departments’ advantage. The choir has doubled in size, and showcases the success of top-achieving choristers at leading national competitions. This choir also won a first prize at the Cantamus Choir Festival held in George during August 2016.
From August 2015 Werner was appointed as Choral Director of cantando@bloem, a semi-professional choir who undertook their second international tour and performed in Italy and Austria. This choir was also awarded best debut music performance at the Free State Arts Festival with Mozart’s Requiem. His conducting repertoire includes J.S. Bach’s motet Jesu meine Freude, Mozart’s Spatzenmesse & Missa in honorem sanctissimae Trinitatis (both with classical orchestra), William Byrd’s Mass for four voices, and Buxtehude’s cantata cycle Membra Jesu nostri. Since September 2015 Werner has been taking conducting lessons from Martin Berger at the University of Stellenbosch in preparation to further his postgraduate studies and has also been appointed as guest lecturer in Service Learning at this institution.