From Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Scholarship Recipient to Symphony Orchestra Soloist

Written by Darryn Kenned

Diana Nkiwane (RF2025) selected to perform with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra at the 146th JSO Senior Concerto Festival

At just 14 years old, Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust’s Diana Nkiwane has already reached an extraordinary milestone in her musical journey.

Diana has been selected, alongside fellow Jeppe Girls vocalist Lunathi Jubane (17), to perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu from his Requiem with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (JSO) at the prestigious 146th JSO Senior Concerto Festival.

This is no ordinary school performance. The selection followed a record-breaking round of auditions in which 42 young musicians auditioned — the highest number of applications ever received for the festival. With the standard of performance exceptionally high, being selected represents a remarkable achievement for any young musician, and is particularly noteworthy for a performer of Diana’s age.

The JSO panel evaluates candidates on numerous aspects of their musicianship, including technical accuracy, musical interpretation, repertoire difficulty, performance quality and the suitability of their chosen work for the overall concert programme. The panel also seeks to create opportunities for emerging performers and to showcase new talent.

Diana's selection is therefore a significant acknowledgement of the musical promise she has demonstrated during her time at Jeppe Girls.

As a Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust scholarship recipient, Diana's journey is also a wonderful example of the opportunities that access to quality education and the arts can create. Her story reflects the transformative potential of investing in young people and nurturing talent from an early age.

Now, at only 14, Diana will step beyond the school music environment and onto a professional concert platform, performing alongside a full symphony orchestra. The experience will expose her to the demands of professional performance — from musical preparation and ensemble awareness to the confidence and discipline required to perform at a high level before an audience.

The repertoire itself is no small undertaking. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu, from his Requiem, demands exceptional sensitivity and musicality from its young voices. Its lyrical writing requires control, purity of tone, expressive phrasing and an ability to communicate the emotional character of the music while working as part of a much larger orchestral ensemble.

For Diana, this performance represents an important step in what promises to be an exciting musical journey.

Her selection, alongside Lunathi, is also a proud moment for the Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust and for Jeppe High School for Girls. It demonstrates the calibre of young women developing within the school's music programme and the importance of providing talented pupils with opportunities to perform beyond the school environment.

Most importantly, Diana's achievement embodies the spirit of the Jeppe Schools’ motto:

Fort Nihil Difficilius – for the brave nothing is too difficult.

It takes courage for a young musician to stand before an audition panel, particularly when competing against 41 other talented candidates. It takes dedication to prepare demanding repertoire to a professional standard. And it takes courage to step onto a professional stage at just 14 years of age.

Diana has done all three.

The girls are preparing for this prestigious performance under the guidance of their voice teacher, Mr. Darryn Kenned.

When reflecting on this remarkable achievement, Diana said “Without the Ruth First scholarship I wouldn’t know that I can sing. Before coming to Jeppe Girls and having Mr. Kenned as my teacher, I knew I could sing along to a song, but I didn’t know I actually had a good voice. I am so excited! My future is music!”  

The Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust community extends its heartfelt congratulations to Diana Nkiwane on this exceptional achievement, and to Lunathi Jubane, who will join her in bringing Pie Jesu to the stage with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra.

The performance will take place on Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 15h00 at the Linder Auditorium, Wits University, as part of the 146th JSO Senior Concerto Festival.

For Diana, this is not simply an opportunity to perform. It is a moment that marks how far she has already come — and undoubtedly the beginning of where their musical journey may yet take her.

Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust

ruthfirstjeppetrust@jeppegirls.co.za

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