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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Wouter Kellerman

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Wouter Kellerman

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Grammy Award-winning South African flautist and composer Wouter Kellerman has been one of the success stories that have emerged from South Africa in recent years, and as his musical ability continues to spread throughout the world, more people are becoming aware of and enjoying his award-winning music.

Kellerman was recently nominated for the prestigious 58th Grammy Awards for his album, “Love Language.” He has been around for many years, having performed for audiences all over the globe while producing numerous popular albums, but to many he is still relatively unknown as an artist.

In an effort to change that, we take a look at 10 things you didn’t know about Wouter Kellerman.

Sources: M&G, News24, TheCitizen, Radio&Music, TheSouthAfrican.

Wouter Kellerman
Wouter Kellerman – 411diary.com

Kellerman is a philanthropist

Kellerman’s passion with regards to music and children have manifested in numerous ways that have benefited countless youngsters. As an active philanthropist he has sponsored the living expenses of ten children in the SOS Children’s Village in Ennerdale, South Africa for the past 14 years, while he was also involved in financing the building of a house in the SOS Children’s Village in Rustenburg. These efforts saw the Musical Ambassador for Project Peace on Earth nominated by the SOS Children’s Villages for the Inyathelo Special Recognition Award, which recognises philanthropy.

Grammy Award Winner Wouter Kellerman
Grammy Award Winner Wouter Kellerman – twitter.com

Grammy award winner

The artist gained fame in his native country and around the world when he received a Grammy Award at the 57th annual Grammy Awards for his album, Winds of Samsara, which was a collaboration between himself and Indian composer Ricky Kej. The album reached number one on the US Billboard New Age Albums Chart and replicated that achievement on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart in July 2014.

Wouter Kellerman
Wouter Kellerman – boomsbeat.com

Multiple SAMA winner

The composer is no stranger to awards in his home country, having won many South African Music Awards (SAMAs) during his career. His previous album Two Voices won the 2011 SAMA for ‘Best Instrumental Album’. All in all, he has won five SAMAs, and he continues to make a case for further awards in future.

ThinkStockPhotos
ThinkStockPhotos

He has performed all over the world

Kellerman’s music has carried him throughout the world, and he has had the privilege of composing and playing his music for crowds all over the globe. In the last few years alone, he has performed shows at venues in cities such as Berlin, Shanghai, New York and Sydney.

Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall – performingartseducators.org

He sold out Carnegie Hall

Not many artists can say that they have performed at the world famous Carnegie Hall, but the South African has an even more impressive distinction. He was able to sell out concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

kickoff.com
kickoff.com

He performed for 700 million people

In 2010 he performed at the FIFA Soccer World Cup Closing Ceremony to a global TV audience of 700-million people. The World Cup was hosted in South Africa as the first ever soccer World Cup on the continent, and of course one of the country’s top music exports was asked to perform.

Wouter Kellerman
Wouter Kellerman – 702.co.za

The success of Mzansi

Kellerman’s album “Mzansi” has the distinction of spending six months in the Top 40 of the international ZMR charts, while it also spent 18 weeks in the Top 40 of the CMJ New World charts. As a result of the album’s success, it also won the 2014 IMA (Independent Music Award) Vox Pop award in the USA for ‘Best World Beat Album’.

Wouter Kellerman
Wouter Kellerman – timeslive.co.za

Husky Hoskulds is his go-to-guy

Three of Kellerman’s highly successful albums were mixed in Los Angeles by famous Grammy award-winning engineer Husky Hoskulds. The albums include “Colour”, “Two Voices” and “Mzansi”. The partnership has been a successful ingredient for the South African entertainer, and he will no doubt continue to work with Hoskulds going forward.

sabc.co.za
sabc.co.za

A flute solo for Nelson Mandela

Kellerman performed his composition “The Long Road”, which was a flute solo, for the late former South African president Nelson Mandela. He performed for Madiba on Nelson Mandela Day in a South African stadium filled with 80,000 people, plus a huge television audience in August 2013.

Wouter Kellerman
Wouter Kellerman – afropop.org

He represented South Africa at MIDEM

He has also performed at the opening of MIDEM in Cannes, France. MIDEM is the world’s largest music conference and festival, and Kellerman was present at the event as part of a Department of Arts and Culture delegation, representing South Africa.