Friends of Music will host a piano recital by Durban-born Jonathan Oshry on August 21 at 19h45 at the Durban Jewish Club.

Jonathan Oshry began his music studies in 1985 with Janet Rubin and continued thereafter at the University of Natal under Isabella Stengel, graduating in 1996 with a BMus degree summa cum laude. He entered the Royal Northern College of Music in 1997 to study under Ronan O’Hora where he obtained a postgraduate diploma, a Masters degree with distinction, and the Professional Performance Diploma.

Jonathan has won numerous scholarships, including two SAMRO bursaries in undergraduate study, the PJ Lemmer Music Scholarship, the du Toit van Tonder Music Scholarship, and Associated Board Music Scholarship for postgraduate study at the RNCM, the Jim Joel Music Scholarship as well as a scholarship from the Marc Raubenheimer Trust. Recent awards include those by the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe (as a result of a UK National competition held in London in January 1999), the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Wingate Foundation.

Competition awards include first prizes in the piano category of the 1990 National Youth Music Competition, the 1994 University of Natal Performers’ Competition, the 1995 Oude Meesters Music Competition as well as the 1996 ATKV Forte Competition where he was overall winner. He was also awarded fourth prize in the 1992 Hennie Joubert Piano Competition, third prize in the 1996 Adolph Hallis Competition and second prize in the 1998 UNISA National Piano Competition.

Jonathan has participated in private and public masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Bela Siki, Andrzej Jasinski, Arnaldo Cohen, Peter Donohoe, Pascal Roge, Tomas Vasary, and Howard Shelley. Concerto performances include numerous appearances with the major orchestra in South Africa as well as the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester.

His recordings have been broadcast on radio and television. He has recently been invited to appear on the Countess of Munster recital scheme, where he will be performing numerous solo, concerto and chamber recitals throughout England. His recent concert tour in South Africa was particularly successful.

The programme includes Bach’s English Suite No 2 in A Minor, Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte-Double and Gigue; Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major Opus 53 “Waldstein” and Chopin’s Preludes Opus 28.

Book at Computicket. The Durban Jewish Club has a cash bar and a car guard will be on duty.