Hannalie van der Merwe

Hannalie van der Merwe (born 12th November, 1952), is now known as "Hannalie Bekker-van der Merwe" in England where she currently resides. She is a Professional Radio Announcer/ Music Producer/ Musician (organist and accompanist) / Music Conductor/ Director/ TV Presenter/ TV Producer/ TV Editor.

Biography

Hannalie van der Merwe was born Johanna DeVilliers van den Berg in Bloemfontein, the daughter of Reverend Ernst van den Berg and Jean de Villiers. She started her primary school education in 1958, first in Aranos, Namibia, before transferring to the Elsburg Primary School in Johannesburg, which she completed in 1965. She then went on to receive her high school education at Afrikaans Hoer Germiston where she matriculated first class in 1970 with distinctions in Music, Biology and Domestic Science. Amongst her many interests was playing the piano and organ. Her first teacher was her mother, Jean van den Berg, who was also the designer of the organ in the Afrikaans High school hall in Germiston.

After school she studied at the University of Pretoria for her Bachelor's degree in Music (Church Organ 1971-1974), Diploma in Music (individual Tuition 1974). During her baccalaureate studies she was awarded Teacher's Licentiate in Music (Unisa 1974) and Certificate in General Musicianship (Unisa 1973).

She returned to her Alma Mater to complete a Bachelor of Music Honours degree (Music Education with Distinction 1986) as well as Master of Music degree (Music Education 1991).

She studied for a Post Graduate Higher National Teacher's Diploma (1989) at the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit (Rand Afrikaans University). (The university was incorporated with Vista University and the Technikon Witwatersrand to form the University of Johannesburg on January 1 2005.)

Apart from the studies she was also awarded with Prestige Study Bursaries in 1972 and 1973, became Vice-Primaria of 'Huis Jasmyn' (1972-73) and Member of the Student Representative Council (1974). In 1974 she was appointed as Primaria of a newly formed Halls of Residence 'Tankotie' and in the same year, aged 21, she was appointed junior lecturer, standing in for her teacher of organ, Professor Stephen Zondagh who took a sabbatical to further his studies in France (1975).

As music teacher she worked at Primary, Secondary and Special education schools; The Hamlet Training Centre for the Mentally Handicapped (4 years), Alberton High School (6 years), Marais Viljoen Technical High School (2 years), Dinamika High School (2 years) and was the owner and Head of Tikkel Tokkel Tone, Nursery School (5 years)

Her academical input was vast and varied. She produced, wrote, compiled, edited and presented educational and music programmes for Radio and Television, conducted seminars and workshops nationally and internationally.

She was a speaker and adjudicator at several seminars, workshops and eisteddfods, compiled music curricula, handbooks and song books, composed and arranged pieces for mixed, children, male and female voices and taught music as a subject at three Secondary Schools.

She completed all graded Unisa piano, organ, vocal, and theory exams. (Grade 1-8 and Licentiate)

Whilst serving as junior lecturer she was appointed by Anton Hartman at Radio as Producer of Serious Music, recording the SABC orchestra and other national orchestras and ensembles, overseas artists, local artists and choirs nationally, under the then watchful eye of first producer Johan Grobbelaar (John du Plessis).

When the SABC moved to their new premises in Auckland Park she worked with the SABC Choir conductor, Neil Chapman, as repetitor and assistant conductor. For many years, M1, the main recording studio, became her 'home'. The venue had a 300 seat auditorium, a pipe organ and was fitted with the best production control system of its time. The SABC Orchestra and Choir rehearsed and recorded here. Choirs, ensembles, orchestras and musicians from all over South Africa and the world performed, recorded and broadcasted from here.

Hannalie was also one of the founder members of SAKOV (Suider-Afrikaanse Kerk-en Konsertorrelistevereniging). SAKOV aims to set and maintain high musical standards

and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of church music in Southern Africa, with approximately 600 members currently; a home for all organists and organ music lovers.

Contribution to SA Television, Radio and/or performance

1972: From her second year at University, Hannalie served as organist at Dutch Reformed Churches in Sonhoogte, Parksig, Brackenhurst, Alberton-Wes and Townsview. This continued until 1996 when she immigrated to the United Kingdom.

1975: She joined the radio division of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as music producer and worked mainly with the SABC Orchestra, National Orchestra, overseas artists, local artists and choirs.

Apart from being the assistant-conductor of the SABC choir, she was also the musical director of several church, primary school and high school choirs.

From 1976- 1988 Hannalie worked as the first producer (Serious Music SABC - radio) producing, recording and editing SABC of the SABC Symphony Orchestra, local and overseas artists. At the same time she was assistant conductor of the SABC choir under Neil Chapman. She made her debut as a producer, scriptwriter and presenter of educational and music programmes at radio; Siembamba, Jongspanateljee (Children's Studio), Vrouerubriek (Women's Category), as well as Hoe Ontdek Ons Klank (How We Discover Sound), Ons Kinders Maak Musiek (Our Children Make Music), Tikkel Tokkel Tuis (Tick Tock Home), Maklik Musiek Maak (Making Music Easily), Die Moeder en Musiek (The Mother and Music), and a documentary series, A G Visser reeks (A G Visser series. Andries Gerhardus Visser was a well-known early Afrikaans poet.)

Whilst at radio she was involved with television as a TV producer and scriptwriter of several educational and children programmes, including; Wielie Walie for 11 years. She worked as a scriptwriter, musician and presenter of Ateljee Tikkel Tokkel (Studio Tick Tock), a series of eight 40 minute programmes.

Wurmkaperjolle (This was an educational programme aimed at young children, from toddlers to grade 3 and was about singing and dancing worm-shaped puppets.) There is no exact translation for the name but roughly it means 'Worms Cavorting and Singing'. Hannalie was the scriptwriter and producer.

Met Woord en Lied (With Word and Song) as the producer and scriptwriter, as a musician on Vuurhoutjieland (Match Land) and as a producer on Agriforum.

1978: Moved to the SABC TV service where she presented, scripted, produced, edited and compiled music programme series and educational programmes including a daily children's educational programme (3-7 age group) which she wrote and produced.

1986: Founded the Southern Transvaal Youth Choir (later she named it Colla Voce, one of the first youth choirs of multicultural inclusion) which under her direction embarked on many national and overseas tours and performances.

1987-1997: Regular radio and television broadcasts and series with the youth choir.

1989: Demonstration choir at the Philip McLachlan International Workshop in Namibia and a demonstration choir for Doreen Rao of Canada.

1989: Live broadcast of commissioned work Namibia Betower My (Namibia Enchants Me) by Pieter de Villiers.

1990: Tour Europe; Performed in several cathedral and concert Halls including 'Notre Dame'

1993: Tour to the East; Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and performed with the Singapore Youth Choir

1986-1996: Conducted seven national tours, performed with the Drakenberg Boys Choir and and other youth and children's choirs.

Conducted and performed in cross-cultural workshops and conducted seminars for the RDP (Redevelopment Programmes in South Africa), the first choir to obtain multi-cultural status.

From 1988 to 1996: Hannalie became a freelance artist. She continued to write and produce television programmes for the SABC TV.

1996 Tour of Europe to take part in the AICE International World Competition; Jugend Music in Wien (Youth Music in Vienna). Received Ehrenpreis der Kultuur Anteilung der Stadt Wien (Honorary Prize of the Cultural Division of the City of Vienna) and a first as a youth choir.

After marrying Deon Bekker she moved to England where she now works and performs as Hannalie Bekker-van der Merwe. She has two children, Joa and Cillie and lives in Chandlers' Ford, Southampton.

Awards, etc

She was nominated for an SABC Artes Award for Ateljee Tikkel Tokkel Series 6.

1996: During a tour of Europe while participating in the AICE International World Competition, Jugend Music in Wien (Youth Music in Vienna), she received the Ehrenpreis der Kultuur Anteilung der Stadt Wien (Honorary Prize of the Cultural Division of the City of Vienna), the first time for a youth choir.

Sources

Hannalie van der Merwe CV, 2025.

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities N (change to appropriate letter)

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page