My Story
Following an auspicious debut at the age of twelve with Beethoven’s C Major Concerto after only two years of study, the Johannesburg native captured first prizes in all the major South African competitions while still in his teens, toured his native country extensively, and became a well-known radio and television personality.
One of my first ever performances with orchestra: the Kabalevsky Concerto No. 3 in D Major, with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra. This was in 1976 when I was 14 — very exciting! (Notice all my hair!)
My mother played the piano beautifully and also had a lovely voice. It was she who was always my biggest supporter and fan, and as a young person traveled all over South African and to Europe with me when I performed. We often had fun playing together. On this occasion we put together a program to celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday.
In 1981 Pretoria got a brand new State Theatre with several halls that could host orchestra concerts, opera, ballet, drama, as well as recitals and chamber music. This photo was taken after one of the opening concerts in the Opera House. I had just played the Liszt Hungarian Fantasy for piano and orchestra with the PACT Orchestra conducted by Edgar Cree. From left to right: My aunt Ray Joubert, mother Hettie, myself, aged 19, my teacher’s wife Mrs. Elsie Hallis, my teacher Dr. Adolph Hallis, and my cousin Merle Comninos.
Anton Nel with the South African National Symphony at age 18. In 1987 Anton won the Naumburg International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall.
A student of Adolph Hallis, he made his European debut in France in 1982, and in the same year graduated with the highest distinction from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He came to the United States in 1983, attending the University of Cincinnati, where he pursued his Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees under Bela Siki and Frank Weinstock.
In addition to garnering many awards from his alma mater during this three-year period, he was a prizewinner at the 1984 Leeds International Piano Competition in England and won several first prizes at the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition in Palm Desert in 1986.
As a graduate student at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, students occasionally had the opportunity to collaborate with faculty. This was taken at a very exciting Sunday afternoon concert in 1985, where I performed the Dvorak Piano Quintet in A Major for the first time. From left to right: distinguished violinist Robert McDuffie, Eric Grossman (then an undergraduate student), myself, violist Pamela Ryan (then a doctoral student) and the very great cellist Zara Nelsova, who I had the privilege of playing some concerts with after I graduated.