Wouter Kellerman

Musician Wouter Kellerman is widely considered to be South Africa's foremost flautist. His album ‘Colour’ debuted to rave reviews and topped the charts, and has been nominated for a 2008 South African Music Award for Best Instrumental Album. His DVD ‘Kellerman Colour Live’ won the 2010 South African Music Award for the best jazz/instrumental/popular classical DVD.

Kellerman is taking his crossover world music to a global audience, having gained a solid following in South Africa. He has already released the album in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and most recently in Australia, where he combined his release with a nationwide tour, which included a support slot on Johnny Clegg’s Down Under tour.

Kellerman is due to release this acclaimed album in the USA in September 2010, where his music videos have already been playlisted. His albums Colour and Two Voices was mixed in Los Angeles by Grammy-winning Husky Hoskulds, who has worked with the likes of Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow.

Inspired by styles and cultures drawn from South Africa and around the world, Colour is a musical journey through African, Latin, jazz and Celtic sounds, with classical inflections. Audiences can prepare to experience an exciting fusion of musical elements and influences emanating from Kellerman's flute.

Wouter Kellerman started playing the flute at the age of 10, and in 1981 appeared as a soloist with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra. He went on to feature in several South African orchestras, scooping musical accolades along the way. Among these was winning the Perrenoud Foundation Prize during the 1997 Vienna International Music Competition.

Using his classical training as a foundation, Kellerman has recently focused his attention on world music, exploring the versatility of the instrument and fusing classical and contemporary sounds, resulting in a potent and thrilling musical encounter.

He has performed on four continents in the last two years in cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin and New York. In January 2010, he performed at the opening of MIDEM in Cannes, France. MIDEM is the world’s biggest music conference and festival and Wouter was part of a Department of Arts and Culture delegation, representing South Africa. He performed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony and also will be performing at the 2010 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. In South Africa he has worked with artists such as JB Arthur, Victor Masondo, Themba Mkhize, Mauritz Lotz, Nianell, Chris Chameleon, Salome Sechele and David Matamela. Kellerman’s flute can be heard on the soundtrack of the Emmy Award-winning film Eye of the Leopard.

Wouter is passionate about helping children and supports the SOS Children’s Villages. He has sponsored the living expenses of a house with ten children in the SOS Children’s Village in Ennerdale, Johannesburg for the last 14 years and has also financed the building of a house in the SOS Children’s Village in Rustenburg. He has been nominated by SOS Children’s Villages for the Inyathelo Special Recognition Award for Philanthropy. He continues to facilitate the teaching of young dance and music students.