by Phaphama Tshisikhawe
His flute evokes a sense of tranquillity while provoking a sense of yearning.
He effortlessly harnesses the wind and transforms it into BEAUTIFUL sound.
His music sends us back to the tombs and the wombs of our origins.
Who is this dancing flautist?
He is QUINTESSENTIAL MUSICIAN, the South African pied piper who will rid us of the rats that are eating away the soul of our nation.
Said Prof Tinyiko Maluleke in praise of the inimitable musician Wouter Kellerman as he was awarded the Doctor of Arts and Design (honoris causa) by the Faculty of Arts and Design at tut, on 17 October 2024.
Dr Wouter Kellerman.
Dr Wouter Kellerman, a double Grammy award-winning performing artist, has built a remarkable legacy in the music industry. He received his first Grammy Award for his album Winds of Samsara in 2014. This exceptional album not only topped the US Billboard Charts, but also reached the pinnacle of the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 International Radio Airplay Chart.
In 2023, he won his second Grammy award for his captivating song Bayethe, a collaboration with Nomcebo Zikode and Zakes Bantwini, in the Best Global Music Performance category.
He has been nominated four times for a Grammy Award, winning it twice.
His exceptional talent, contribution to South Africa’s musical heritage, and the inspiration he provides to established and aspiring artists through the universal language of music, are celebrated at TUT as he joins other luminaries who are part of the alumni register.
Dr Wouter Kellerman is a LEADER contemporary music, transcending boundaries through his multifaceted talents as a flautist, composer, producer and philanthropist. His career is marked by extraordinary achievements that highlight his artistic prowess.
He has won a total nine South African Music Awards (Samas) from 13 nominations, solidifying his status as one of the county’s premier musicians.
He composed the solo flute piece, The Long Road, in honour of Nelson Mandela. The song was awarded the 2016 Global Peace Song Award in the Acoustic/Contemporary Music category.
Over the course of nine albums, he has consistently built upon the rigorous classical training he received in his youth, crafting a distinctive sound that has garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards.
He has held three sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York.
