We are a Cape Town based organization (started in 1982) that specialises in offering students a quality music education in: Woodwinds, Strings, Brass, Piano & Percussion. The Beau Soleil Music Centre was officially opened on 15th April 1983 by the Western Cape Education Department to meet the needs of specialised instrumental music tuition in the Cape Town area. It is housed in an old manor house
called “Beau Soleil” in Kenilworth, which was built in 1877 and declared a National Monument, after major restoration in 1982. From the outset, the guiding ethic of the Beau Soleil Music Centre has been to enrich the lives of young people through music education. This policy has been enthusiastically applied by the staff throughout the past 39 years. The number of pupils attending has grown from the initial 100 to presently ± 400 pupils. The Centre offers instrumental tuition which is provided by 11 full-time members of staff and several part time instrumental specialist teachers drawn from the top performing instrumentalists in Cape Town. Both the full time staff and part time staff are accomplished performers who regularly perform in a wide range of musical genres from the classical to light music styles. It is with great pride that that the Music Centre can boast such top flight artists among their teaching staff. From 2022 the Centre also offers the full FET curriculum from Gr 10 to Gr 12. Full time staff members include Marina Louw (Principal and Head of Strings), Derek Fennell (Head of Woodwinds), Merlin McDonald (Head of Brass), David West (Head of Light Music and Percussion), Dr Grethe Nothling (piano and accompanist), Lisa-Mari Janse van Rensburg (violin teacher), Bonolo Kgaile (violin teacher), Dane Coetzee (cello teacher), Matthew Ferrandi (clarinet teacher), Bronwen Leith (piano and choir) and Grant Allison (FET and guitar).
