TAKE 4 Piano Quartet

Take Four Piano Quartet: success thanks to synergy and long-standing friendship

Standing ovations after each performance by the now well-known, Take Four Piano Quartet, are not only due to musicality and skill. "It also has to do with an exceptional synergy between four longtime friends – a close friendship that encompasses deep conversations, jokes, and genuine support," says Zanta Hofmeyr, the violinist in the quartet. She and the cellist, Jeanne-Louise Moolman, violist, Susan Mouton, and pianist, Elna van der Merwe, live in different cities, but their friendship has endured for decades, along with their intention to someday form an ensemble and make music together.

That day arrived in 2022, when Moolman realized they were all approaching 60, and if they didn't realize their plan now, it might be too late. Thus, in August 2022, they embarked on their first concert tour in the Western Cape, which then became an annual tradition. Several performances followed, including at the Woordfees, the Odeion Theatre in Bloemfontein, the Unisa concert series, the Hessequa Harmonie, the NWU concert series in Potchefstroom, and Tankwa Classics – just to name a few. The audience was consistently captivated!

The friends have many plans for their ensemble. Their goal is to undertake a concert tour every year during Women’s Month, and to study new works every two years. They already have a program set for 2025, along with travel plans for the Western Cape and Gauteng.

The four ladies are among the leading instrumentalists in South Africa, and they are:

Elna van der Merwe (piano) studied at Stellenbosch University (US), where she was a full-time accompanist, and part-time piano lecturer until 2001. Since then, she has become a sought-after collaborative pianist. She has received several awards, scholarships, and competed in various competitions. Since 1990, she has been an accompanist for the Unisa International Singing and String Competitions, as well as flute and clarinet competitions. She is also the musical director of the unique music festival, Tankwa Classics.

Zanta Hofmeyr (violin) studied at the Juilliard School in New York and returned to South Africa after making her debut at Carnegie Hall. She frequently performs as a soloist with symphony orchestras, is a member of the Wits Trio, and teaches at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is the patroness of the Thabang ka Mmino music project in Soweto, South Africa. Hofmeyr has several recordings to her name and even has a rose named after her.

Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) was appointed as the violist in the Odeion String Quartet in 2008 after studying at the University of Pretoria (UP), and in Salzburg under Thomas Riebl. She has won numerous competitions and has been invited to participate in international viola congresses. She is a skilled chamber musician and frequently performs with some of the country's top musicians. Several South African composers have written works for Moolman.

Susan Mouton (cello) was also a music student at UP and winner of the South African Music Award and the Unisa Overseas Study Grant. She joined the National Symphony Orchestra in 1983, becoming the principal violist from 1987, a position she has held at the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra since 2000. In addition to her orchestra performances, she is active in chamber music and is part of the Wits Trio. Mouton has served as a judge at the International String Competition multiple times.

 For their concert in Gqeberha they chose to play the following two works:

 Piano Quartet in E-flat major, K 493.            Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 1791)

 Piano quartet no. 1 in c minor, Opus 15.      Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924)

The goal of the PEMS is to bring a variety of classical music to music lovers in Gqeberha. Please do not miss this wonderful opportunity to hear excellent chamber music. Bring friends and family along.

On Sunday, 27 July 2025 at 15h00, TAKE 4 Piano Quartet will play in the NMU south campus auditorium.

Tickets are available at the door for non-members at R95 for adults, R80 for pensioners, R40 for students and R35 for scholars.

For any enquiries, please contact Dr Erika Bothma-Troskie on 0823084494, or Theresa Cunliffe during office hours on 041 5042250.