Profiles

Cara L. Stacey began her musical studies at the age of six in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her first instrument was clarinet, though she commenced her piano studies later, at the age of twelve. She holds a BMUS in musicology from the South African College of Music (University of Cape Town) with a distinction in African and World Musics. On completion of her undergraduate studies, she won the University of Edinburgh International Masters scholarship for Africa and the Bucher-Fraser Music Scholarship for 2008, which allowed her to complete her Masters in musicology in the United Kingdom.A classical pianist by training, Cara studied with Rostislava Pankova-Karadjov, Sandra Kettle, Graham Fitch and Eleni Mavromoustaki. She has played for Jill Richards and studied under Marcella Crudelli at Chetham’s International Festival and Summer School for Pianists (Manchester). She was awarded a scholarship to attend Chetham’s Summer School in 2009. Cara has also studied numerous African instruments (Mbira, Uhadi, Umrhubhe and Budongo) under Linos Wengara, Dizu Plaatjies and Andrew Cooke. Cara has played percussion and piano in a various orchestras but her primary performative interests remain in contemporary Africa composition and the musical bows of Southern Africa.Cara is currently studying for another Masters in musical performance at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She is specializing in Southern African singing and bow music.