Zara Winter (Violin) & Frank Sturgess (Piano) - Canzonetta from Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

Zara-Chloe Winter was born in Johannesburg in 2007. She is currently in grade 11 at Heron Bridge College. She started the violin with Frank Sturgess in 2017 at the age of 10. Her studies have included private lessons as well as participation in a weekly chamber music programme. During 2022 and 2023 Zara played in the Festival Concert Orchestra, as well as various ensembles at the annual Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF). In 2024 she returned to the festival, this time as a member of the Festival Symphony Orchestra.

During June 2024 Zara was selected to perform a concerto movement with the Rand Symphony Orchestra in a public performance at the Roodepoort Theatre conducted by Carel Henn.

Zara is passionate about both orchestral and chamber music. Beyond her musical pursuits in violin, Zara also enjoys netball, piano, reading and art.

Frank was born in 1959 in Ermelo, South Africa. The youngest of five boys, he grew up on a farm in the district and attended mostly local schools. His first formal introduction to music was in the form of piano lessons at the local convent from the age of 8. Upon reaching high school the clarinet was added. This instrument was after two years exchanged for the viola.

Upon completing high school, Frank went on to further his study of the piano under Peggy Haddon and viola under Walter Mony at the University of the Witwatersrand. During this time, he was a member of the SABC Junior Symphony Orchestra. He later also studied English Literature and Philosophy at the University of South Africa.

Towards the end of a rather unhappy and tumultuous period of military conscription (which included a court martial), he again took up the clarinet for a period as a member of the Light Horse Regiment band.

After commencing a music teaching career during the 80’s, he worked for several years as a farmer and later as a pilot/flying instructor and has since 2007 again become fully involved in the field of music education. During this time, he has been the manager of the MIAGI Youth Orchestra as well as the founder and coordinator of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls Music Programme where he also taught music and coached ensembles.

Since 2012 Frank has dedicated himself to his private teaching studio at his home in Jukskei Park, Johannesburg, where he teaches piano, violin, and viola. He also runs a weekly chamber music coaching programme.

Frank was previously married to Susan Jobson. The couple had three children Matthew, Nicola, and Hayley. His hobbies have included chess, squash, flying, sailing, and gardening.

In June 2024 Frank's extensive YouTube channel was taken down for allegedly "violating community standards". The channel contained nothing other than classical music videos featuring Frank and his students. Unfortunately this material was not backed up and is now mostly lost. Frank has managed to recover from elsewhere a few items such as this one. All future videos will be hosted on Bit Chute and on Rumble.