Megan-Geoffrey Prins, from Riversdale, South Africa, has performed as soloist and collaborative artist in North America, Europe, Africa, and Hong Kong. Prins featured in various local and international piano competitions, including the Honens International Piano Competition, the Hong Kong International Piano Competition, the UNISA National and International Piano Competitions, and the Midwest International Piano Competition. Prins made his concerto debut at the age of 11. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras in Germany, the USA, Botswana, and South Africa. His performances of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3 were praised by German and South African critics for “technical precision,” “artistic expressivity,” and “transcendent” interpretation. In 2019, Prins was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Music. He was included in the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans list in 2021. During Stellenbosch University’s centennial celebrations, Prins was featured as one of the hundred most notable graduates from the institution.
Prins currently serves as full-time piano lecturer on the faculty of the University of Pretoria: School of the Arts. He pursued postgraduate studies with Antonio Pompa-Baldi at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was awarded the Sadie Zellen Piano Prize, the Arthur Loesser Memorial Prize, and the Maurice and Judith Kaplow Prize for Uncommon Creativity. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Local achievements include first prizes at the UNISA 120th Anniversary Competition, the inaugural Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival Competition, the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition, the 2016 Muziq Instrumental Competition, and the 2017 SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition. He has been nominated for numerous local festival awards including multiple Woordtrofees, KykNet Fiëstas, and a KKNK Kanna award.
Competitions and Awards
• Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans (2021)
• Nomination: best instrumental classical music production at the Woordfees arts festival (2020)
•Standard Bank Young Artist for Music (2019)
• Arthur Loesser Prize for Piano, Cleveland Institute of Music (2018)
• Top 10, 2018 Honens International Piano Competition (2018)
• The Kaplow Prize for Uncommon Creativity from the Cleveland Institute of Music (2017)
• 1st prize at the 2017 SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition for Keyboard Players (2017)
• Prize for the best performance of a prescribed South African work at the 2017 SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (2017)
• Nomination: best musical production at the Woordfees arts festival (2017)
• National Arts Council of South Africa International Study Award (2016; 2017)
• 1st Prize at the ATKV Muziq competition (2016)
•Prize for the best performance of a Baroque or Classical work in the final round of the ATKV Muziq Competition (2016)
• Prize for the best performance of the prescribed work at the 13th UNISA International Piano Competition (2016)
•1st Prize at the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition (2015)
• Prize for the best performance of a Classical sonata at the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition (2015)
•Prize for best performance of a Baroque work at the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition (2015)
•1st prize at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
•Prize for the best pianist at the 1st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
•Prize for the best recital round at the 1st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
• Prize for the best concerto performance (Rachmaninov’s 3rd piano concerto) at the 1st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
•1st prize at the UNISA 120th Anniversary Competition (2014)
• Hannah Davel Scholarship Prize, UNISA 120th Anniversary Competition (2014)
•Sadie Zellen Piano Prize from the Cleveland Institute of Music (2014)
• Semi-Finalist at the Midwest International Piano Competition (2014)
•2nd Prize- SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (2013)
•Prize for the best performance of a South African work at the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (2013)
•1st Prize at the Mabel Quick Overseas Scholarship Competition (2012)
•SAMRO/Flink Study Award (2013)
•SAMRO/Fisher Award (2013)
•SASMT Kathleen Irish Bursary (2012)
• Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Award (2012; 2013; 2016)
•Nomination: kykNET Fiesta for Best Emerging Artist in South Africa (2012)
•Selected soloist for Len van Zyl Conducting Competition (2012)
•Prize for the best South African competitor at the 12th UNISA International Piano Competition (2012)
•Prize for the best performance of the prescribed work at the 12th UNISA International Piano Competition (2012)
•2nd Prize at the 4th UNISA National Piano Competition (2011)
•Prize for the best performance of a Classical sonata at the 4th UNISA Piano Competition (2011)
•Prize for the best performance of a Baroque work at the 4th UNISA National Piano Competition (2011)
•Winner- Piano Category of ATKV Muziq Competition (2011)
•Prize for the best performance of a Classical or Baroque work at the ATKV Muziq Competition (2011)
•Winner- Lionel Bowman Beethoven Competition (2011 and 2008)
•Kanna Award for the Best Up and Coming Artist in South Africa at the KKNK Festival (2009)
•Winner- Piano Category at the Artscape National Music Competition (2008 and 2007)
•Winner- National Arts Trust Music Competition (2007)
•Winner- Organ Category of the ABSA National Youth Music Competition (2006)
•Overall Winner- Sanlam National Music Competition (2001)
•Prize for the most promising participant younger than 10 years at the Sanlam National Music Competition (2001)
•Winner- Johan Vos Piano Competition (1997)
•Winner- Musicon Piano Competition (1997)
• Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans (2021)
• Nomination: best instrumental classical music production at the Woordfees arts festival (2020)
•Standard Bank Young Artist for Music (2019)
• Arthur Loesser Prize for Piano, Cleveland Institute of Music (2018)
• Top 10, 2018 Honens International Piano Competition (2018)
• The Kaplow Prize for Uncommon Creativity from the Cleveland Institute of Music (2017)
• 1st prize at the 2017 SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition for Keyboard Players (2017)
• Prize for the best performance of a prescribed South African work at the 2017 SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (2017)
• Nomination: best musical production at the Woordfees arts festival (2017)
• National Arts Council of South Africa International Study Award (2016; 2017)
• 1st Prize at the ATKV Muziq competition (2016)
•Prize for the best performance of a Baroque or Classical work in the final round of the ATKV Muziq Competition (2016)
• Prize for the best performance of the prescribed work at the 13th UNISA International Piano Competition (2016)
•1st Prize at the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition (2015)
• Prize for the best performance of a Classical sonata at the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition (2015)
•Prize for best performance of a Baroque work at the 5th UNISA National Piano Competition (2015)
•1st prize at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
•Prize for the best pianist at the 1st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
•Prize for the best recital round at the 1st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
• Prize for the best concerto performance (Rachmaninov’s 3rd piano concerto) at the 1st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival International Study Bursary Competition (2015)
•1st prize at the UNISA 120th Anniversary Competition (2014)
• Hannah Davel Scholarship Prize, UNISA 120th Anniversary Competition (2014)
•Sadie Zellen Piano Prize from the Cleveland Institute of Music (2014)
• Semi-Finalist at the Midwest International Piano Competition (2014)
•2nd Prize- SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (2013)
•Prize for the best performance of a South African work at the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (2013)
•1st Prize at the Mabel Quick Overseas Scholarship Competition (2012)
•SAMRO/Flink Study Award (2013)
•SAMRO/Fisher Award (2013)
•SASMT Kathleen Irish Bursary (2012)
• Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Award (2012; 2013; 2016)
•Nomination: kykNET Fiesta for Best Emerging Artist in South Africa (2012)
•Selected soloist for Len van Zyl Conducting Competition (2012)
•Prize for the best South African competitor at the 12th UNISA International Piano Competition (2012)
•Prize for the best performance of the prescribed work at the 12th UNISA International Piano Competition (2012)
•2nd Prize at the 4th UNISA National Piano Competition (2011)
•Prize for the best performance of a Classical sonata at the 4th UNISA Piano Competition (2011)
•Prize for the best performance of a Baroque work at the 4th UNISA National Piano Competition (2011)
•Winner- Piano Category of ATKV Muziq Competition (2011)
•Prize for the best performance of a Classical or Baroque work at the ATKV Muziq Competition (2011)
•Winner- Lionel Bowman Beethoven Competition (2011 and 2008)
•Kanna Award for the Best Up and Coming Artist in South Africa at the KKNK Festival (2009)
•Winner- Piano Category at the Artscape National Music Competition (2008 and 2007)
•Winner- National Arts Trust Music Competition (2007)
•Winner- Organ Category of the ABSA National Youth Music Competition (2006)
•Overall Winner- Sanlam National Music Competition (2001)
•Prize for the most promising participant younger than 10 years at the Sanlam National Music Competition (2001)
•Winner- Johan Vos Piano Competition (1997)
•Winner- Musicon Piano Competition (1997)