Ruan K - Tutor in Muizenberg

Ruan Strauss Kalis was born in Paarl, South Africa, commencing piano and music theory studies at age 10. At age 14 he took up organ lessons and shortly after started studying composition under Paul Loeb van Zuilenberg (1993 – 1996). He matriculated at Paarl Boys’ High School in 1996. His professional music studies, majoring in Piano Performance, commenced in 1997 at the University of Stellenbosch under the guidance of the esteemed pianist and pedagogue, Melanie Horne. Following her death in 1998, he moved his studies to the University of Cape Town, where he completed the Performer’s Diploma in Music (majoring in Piano Performance) under the guidance of distinguished professors Lamar Crowson and Graham Fitch. Whilst studying for his undergraduate qualification, he performed at several masterclasses from renowned pianists, among which Leslie Howard, Martino Tirimo and Andrzej Jasiński. During the years 2003 and 2004, he taught piano and music as high school subject at Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard (College), as well as privately and later at the Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of the Western Cape. At the same time he wrote, compiled and hosted a radio programme for Fine Music Radio, as well as reading the news and weather reports. This period was followed by several years working in the hospitality industry, which included a year’s residency in London (U.K.). In 2012, he was appointed as Sales and Marketing Consultant for a piano specialist company, Ian Burgess-Simpson Pianos in Muizenberg, where he also fulfilled the roll as resident pianist, requiring regular performances for prospective buyers as well as for promotional purposes. In March 2013 his musical setting of poems from Antjie Krog’s Verweerskrif – a song cycle for Voice and Piano – was premiered at the Woordfees in Stellenbosch. Since his departure from Ian Burgess-Simpson Pianos, he has established himself as a voice artist, continues to compose and has commenced preparation for returning to the concert platform as pianist. He has also functioned as freelance organist up until the present date. Furthermore, he is a keen student of languages, having studied German to Matric level and later a refresher course, alongside an introductory course in French and currently Italian.