Sylvia Schulman

"It is a rare pianist indeed who plays not only with polished technique, fiery passion, eloquence, and interpretive insight, but also with love. The few who bring all five into play have gone beyond exceptional performance; have seen and felt the entire range of the human condition, from saints to tyrants, and yet love the human family through a love divine. This is the noble spirit that rings in the art of Sylvia Schulman."

~ Ludwig Tuman (Award winning composer; pianist; author)

Sylvia Schulman is an accomplished concert pianist who’s musical pursuits have taken her around the globe.

Sylvia spent several years in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) where she was engaged as recital and orchestral soloist as well as accompanist for live recitals, broadcasts and tours throughout the country. Soon thereafter her music took her to the UK. For fifteen years she toured and performed around Britain for prestigious events such as the Cambridge Festival and the Harewood House Concert Series, as well as offering concerts at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room in London, and broadcasting for the BBC. In 1977 she left the UK and returned to Cape Town where her musical endeavors continued in earnest.

She has accompanied such artists as Leon Goossens, Jack Brymer, Norman Bailey (with whom she gave innumerable recitals over a period of over 20 years), Cleo Laine and John Carol Case. Back in South Africa she appeared frequently with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra as soloist, accompanied leading South African instrumentalists and singers, and worked extensively for the Cape Performing Arts Board. Her solo programme entitled "Sylvia Schulman Plays Piano Music For You" was enthusiastically received both in South Africa and the UK. Other musical involvements were with the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town, piano teaching and private repetiteur work. She was resident in Johannesburg for about 10 years while she served the Bahá’í community of South Africa as Office Manager at the National Bahá’í Centre, but maintained her musical endeavors as resident pianist for the Gauteng Choristers and various informal concerts.

She has developed a wonderful programme entitled "A Musical Analogy" which takes the form of an illustrated talk using the elements of music to describe aspects of life, both spiritual and material. For this she uses both her electronic and acoustic pianos for different effects.

At the end of 2006 Sylvia moved to Swellendam in the Western Cape where she has performed in over 20 concerts with more engagements scheduled for several months and into 2014. She tutors piano students and has given public Master Classes. Sylvia’s CD album of 12 classical piano pieces has received personal acclaim both in South Africa and abroad.

Sylvia Schulman’s Websites: swellendampiano.blogspot.com Facebook twitter