About
Originally from Franschhoek, Elizabeth Catharina was born into a family steeped in music and the arts. Her father Roucher du Toit is an acclaimed concert organist and pianist who performs internationally. His siblings studied music, his mother was a pianist, organist and a singer. On her mothers side, her grandmother, Elizabeth Catharina Hugo was a pianist, violinist and classically trained opera singer.
Elizabeth Catharina started violin at the age of five and played her Grade 1 Royal Schools violin exam before she went to school. Awarded a music scholarship for violin and voice, she attended St Cyprian’s School for Girls. Continuing her success track record in violin while simultaneously participating actively in cultural and leadership activities she publicly performed the double Bach violin concerto at the age of ten, obtained her ABRSM (Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) Theory Grade 5 at age twelve and thereafter three Grade Eights, the first being for violin at the age of fifteen. Elizabeth Catharina was the leader of St Cyprian’s School orchestra in grade 11 and 12. She was the leader of both the Beau Soleil Senior String Orchestra and the leader of the Beau Soleil String Quartet in 2008. Elizabeth Catharina was also a first violinist in the South African National Youth Orchestra in 2011.
Elizabeth Catharina’s real passion lies in voice. While she sang informally in her childhood, her very impressive singing career commenced with formal training at eighteen as a student of her father Roucher du Toit and Prof. Virginia Davids at the University of Cape Town’s Music Department. A highlight of her training was attending the internationally acclaimed Il Trilo Music Conservatoire in Florence for Voice and Violin in 2009.
Elizabeth Catharina has performed as a soloist for many prestigious events among these, Performing Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate for His Grace Arch Bishop Tutu, twice; Soloist for the KKNK Klasique festival with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra; Soloist for the annual Handel’s Messiah with Cape Town Philharmonia Choir and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in Cape Town’s City Hall; Soloist for KykNet’s Christmas concert; recitals in the Baxter Theater and the Endler Hall; She has also performed in Salzburg and various cathedrals in Germany and Bavaria, including the Koln Dom for the European Summer Music Festival in Cologne in 2014. Elizabeth Catharina has appeared on radio stations including RSG, 5FM and FMR.
Elizabeth Catharina graduated with a double major in Classical Violin and Classical Voice at the University of Cape Town in 2012 and was on the Dean’s Merit List for every year of her undergraduate studies. In 2013 she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Honours degree, with a First Class, specializing in Classical Voice from the University of Cape Town. Elizabeth Catharina is currently completing her Masters degree in Musicology at Stellenbosch University whilst performing and teaching. Her specialist interests include dyslexia in music students, on which her Honours thesis was based, and making a game of chess sound, on which her masters thesis is based.
Elizabeth Catharina frequently appears as a motivational speaker. An ex-Vista Nova School student, Elizabeth Catharina suffers from Cerebral Palsy and has overcome many obstacles in her life.