Wouter Kellerman Explained

Wouter Kellerman
Birth Date:1961 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Johannesburg, South Africa
Instrument:Flute, "c" flute (traverse flute), Bass Flute, Fife, Alto Flute, Bansuri (Indian Flute)
Years Active:1981–present
Genre:World, Roots, Classical, Jazz, Instrumental
Occupation:Musician, Composer & Producer

Wouter Kellerman (born 20 September 1961) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning[1] South African flautist, producer and composer who has won nine South African Music Awards.[2] Classically trained, Kellerman performs primarily World and Roots music.

Kellerman received a Grammy Award at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards[3] for his 2014 album Winds of Samsara, a collaboration with Indian composer and producer Ricky Kej. Winds of Samsara reached No. 1 on the US New Age Album Billboard Charts[4] and also peaked at No. 1 on the ZMR (Zone Music Reporter)[5] Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart in the month of July 2014.

Kellerman's Love Language (2015) received a Grammy nomination[6] for 'Best Contemporary Instrumental Album', and won a SAMA for 'Best Instrumental and/or Classical Album'.[7] It debuted at No. 1 on the World Music Billboard charts in July 2015.[8] This album also featured at No. 1 on the ZMR Top 100 International Radio Airplay Chart in August 2015,[9] and spent 11 weeks in the CMJ New World Top 40 Chart, peaking at No. 12.

His next project was a collaboration with the Soweto Gospel Choir, Symphonic Soweto – A Tribute to Nelson Mandela.[10] The album re-conceptualised traditional music, freedom songs (including Mandela favourite, “Lizalis’idinga”) and popular songs by South African legends (including Brenda Fassie, Lucky Dube and Miriam Makeba), from a symphonic and choral perspective – as part of honouring Nelson Mandela in the year he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Symphonic Soweto won the 2018 SAMA for Best Adult Contemporary Album – Kellerman's seventh SAMA recognition.[11] From Symphonic Soweto, Kellerman's collaborative composition Soweto Travels won the USA Songwriting Competition for Best Instrumental Composition in 2017.

As part of his mission to work with and uplift children, Kellerman collaborated with the Ndlovu Youth Choir (a rural choir based in Moutse in the Limpopo province of South Africa) in 2018. Their African version of Ed Sheeran's Shape of You became an internet sensation, going viral with tens of millions of views on social media, and winning awards like the HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Awards) for 'Best Independent Music Video'[12] – pushing the Ndlovu Youth Choir firmly into the international limelight. This resulted in America's Got Talent scouting the choir to enter the 2019 competition. Ndlovu went ahead and delivered a sensational first few rounds, going all the way through to the finals of the competition, showcasing South African music and spirit in the process. Their collaboration is part of Kellerman's 2019 album In A Different Light[13] , in which he re-imagines and re-shapes some of his favourite melodies by approaching them from a fresh angle.

Kellerman received his third Grammy nomination for Pangaea, his collaborative album with David Arkenstone in 2021 and his fourth Grammy nomination and his second win in 2023 for his song Bayethe, with South African artists Nomcebo Zikode and Zakes Bantwini in the Best Global Music Performance category.[14]

Performance highlights

Kellerman's flute-playing can be heard on the soundtrack of the Emmy Award-winning film Eye of the Leopard.

Philanthropy

Kellerman has sponsored the living expenses of 10 children in the SOS Children's Village in Ennerdale, South Africa for the past 20 years and has also financed the building of a house in the SOS Children's Village in Rustenburg. For his continued efforts in helping give these children a better life, Kellerman was nominated by the SOS Children's Villages for the 2007 Inyathelo Special Recognition Award for Philanthropy.[38] He continues to facilitate the teaching of young dance and music students.

Kellerman provided the seed funding for the Keiskamma Music Academy in the Eastern Cape, founded by fellow flautist, Helen Vosloo.[39]

Wouter has worked closely and performs regularly with the charity 67 Blankets For Nelson Mandela.

Kellerman recorded a song called 'Homeland' for Refugees awareness in March 2022[40] and performed on 10 December 2020 for the NPO Turquoise Harmony Institute to raise awareness of the plight of refugees[41]

Awards and nominations

YearRecipientAwardResultRef.
2007Wouter KellermanInyathelo Special Recognition Award for Philanthropy[42]
2008South African Music Award (SAMA) for 'Colour' – 'Best Instrumental Album'
2010SAMA for Best Instrumental/Jazz/popular Classical DVD for Live in Mzansi[43]
2011SAMA for Best Instrumental Album for Two Voices[44]
2013Vox Pop IMA (Independent Music Award) for Best World Beat Album for 'Mzansi'[45]
2014HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Awards): World Music and New Age
2015Wouter Kellerman / Ricky Kej57th Annual Grammy Award for 'Best New Age Album' for 'Winds of Samsara'[46]
Wouter KellermanSAMA for 'Best Instrumental Album' for 'Winds of Samsara'
SAMA for 'Best Producer of the Year' for 'Winds of Samsara'
SAMA for 'Best International Achievement'
ZMR award for Best World Album for 'Winds of Samsara'[47]
ZMR award for Album of the Year for 'Winds of Samsara'[48]
201658th Grammy Award for 'Best Contemporary Instrumental Album' for 'Love Language' [49]
ZMR award for Best World Album for 'Love Language'[50]
SAMA for 'Best Instrumental and/or Classical Album' for 'Love Language'[51]
Global Peace Song Award in the public voted Acoustic/ Contemporary Music category[52]
2017Wouter Kellerman / Soweto Gospel ChoirHMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Awards): Best World Music Song and Best Music Video
Wouter KellermanUSA Songwriting Competition – Best Instrumental Composition[53]
2018Wouter Kellerman / Soweto Gospel ChoirSAMA for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' for 'Symphonic Soweto, a Tribute to Nelson Mandela'[54]
2019Wouter Kellerman / Ndlovu Youth ChoirHMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for Independent Music Video[55]
2020Wouter KellermanIMA (Independent Music Awards) for Best Social Action Video for 'Baroque to the Rescue' (feat. Konshens The MC and Lady Zamar)[56]
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Concept Album for 'In A Different Light'[57]
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Producer of an Instrumental Album for 'In A Different Light'
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Social Action Song for 'Baroque to the Rescue' (feat. Konshens The MC and Lady Zamar)
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Performance Video for 'Shape of You' (feat. Ndlovu Youth Choir)
SAMA for the 'Best Produced Album of the Year' for 'In A Different Light'[58]
Wouter Kellerman[59]
Wouter Kellerman/ Nadia ShpachenkoHMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for 'Catching Up' [60]
Wouter Kellerman/ Mzansi Youth ChoirHMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for 'Best Independent Music Video' for 'The Climb' [61]
2021Wouter KellermanSAMA for 'Best Classical/Instrumental Album' for We’ve Known All Times
2021Wouter Kellerman/David Arkenstone64th GRAMMY Award for 'Best New Age Album' for 'Pangaea'[62]
2022 Wouter Kellerman/Nomcebo Zikode/Zakes Bantwini 65th GRAMMY Award for 'Best Global Music Performance' for 'Bayethe'
2023 Wouter KellermanSAMA 29 International Achievement

Albums

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wouter Kellerman Artist . 2024-04-17 . grammy.com.
  2. Web site: Alive . Media . 21 May 2011 . The South African Music Awards winners 2011 . 6 October 2012 . MediaAlive.
  3. Web site: Grammy Nominations . 9 February 2015 . Grammy® Awards.
  4. Billboard Charts, New Age Albums . Billboard . 2 August 2014.
  5. Web site: ZMR(Zone Music Reporter) charts . 17 November 2014 . ZMR.
  6. Web site: Grammy Nomination for Wouter Kellerman. bsharpentertainment.co.za/music. 6 December 2015 . 2016-02-03.
  7. Web site: Here are all the 2016 Sama winners. Channel. 2016-06-08.
  8. Web site: SA's Wouter Kellerman hits No 1 on Billboard chart. citizen.co.za. 2019-10-14. 11 September 2015.
  9. New Age / Ambient / World Top 100 Radio Chart . 2016-02-24 . zonemusicreporter.com.
  10. Web site: Symphonic Soweto . 2019-09-22 . Symphonic Soweto . en-US.
  11. Web site:
    1. SAMAs 2018: Full list of the winners from this year's awards
    . 2018-06-03. The South African. en-US. 2019-09-22.
  12. Web site: HMMA Winners . hmmawards.com. 2019-11-21.
  13. Web site: In A Different Light . 2019-11-21 . In A Different Light . en-US.
  14. News: 6 February 2023 . Kellerman, Bantwini, Zikode win Grammy award . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206072128/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/kellerman-bantwini-zikode-win-grammy-award/ . February 6, 2023 . SABC News.
  15. Web site: JB Arthur Event Music Production Sound Design Johannesburg South Africa . 2023-04-10 . jbarthur.co.za.
  16. Web site: 2010-08-24 . The colour of music . 2023-04-10 . Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.
  17. Web site: yomzansi . 2016-05-18 . 2016 Joy of Jazz will bring international & local acts on one stage . 2023-04-10 . Yomzansi. Documenting the Culture . en-US.
  18. Web site: Patience . Bambalele . SA Talent Dazzles At Joy of Jazz . 2022-11-28 . sowetanlive.co.za . en.
  19. Web site: AustralianMusician . 2017-04-17 . Bluesfest 2017: Wouter Kellerman . 2023-04-10 . Australian Musician Magazine.
  20. Web site: Russia SA Cultural Seasons return to South Africa Department of Arts and Culture . 2017-12-22 . dac.gov.za . en.
  21. Web site: Shanghai Expo boosts South Africa's profile. Mafika. 2010-10-19. Brand South Africa. en-US. 2019-10-14.
  22. Web site: Wouter Kellerman: magic on flute. Mafika. 2010-01-27. Brand South Africa. en-US. 2019-10-14.
  23. Web site: Gullard . Maria . 25 July 2012 . Flautist Wouter Kellerman focuses on mood at the Kennedy Center . 7 October 2012 . The Examiner.
  24. Web site: Vincent Lyn, Wouter Kellerman and David Longoria . musicnews.com. 10 October 2014.
  25. News: Jazz Pianist Vincent Lyn Plays Carnegie Hall in a Double Bill With Flutist Wouter Kellerman. Jackson. Joe. 2014-10-04. The Wall Street Journal. 2019-10-14. en-US. 0099-9660.
  26. Kellerman . Wouter . Grammy Award Winning Wouter Kellerman Debuts at #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart for His Newly Release Album Titled "Love Language" . 2023-04-10 . PR Newswire . en.
  27. Web site: The Indie Collaborative Comes To Carnegie Hall. BWW News Desk. BroadwayWorld.com. en. 2019-10-14.
  28. Web site: The Bluestone Sisters Grant Maloy Smith . carnegiehall.org . . 15 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415054109/https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2018/11/19/Wouter-Kellerman-The-Bluestone-Sisters-Grant-Maloy-Smith-0800PM?queueittoken=e_pnsafetynet2023~q_a4e823f3-5cad-4f4f-8804-6bede8302b4a~ts_1681537449~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_031941b8d51d835f81a06fd2062fe8e92e018008766d7146e65602f7f8133e90 . 15 April 2023 . 19 November 2018 . live.
  29. Web site: 19 October 2014 . Woodford Folk Festival Unleash Massive Program . 17 April 2024 . themusic.com.au.
  30. News: Wouter Kellerman performs at Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur – Times of India. The Times of India. 30 October 2015 . en. 2019-10-14.
  31. Web site: Jodhpur RIFF Scheduled Program 24th to 28th October 2018 . 24 August 2018 .
  32. Web site: 10,000 people to take part in PM Modi's reception in South Africa. 2016-06-30. 2016-08-18.
  33. Web site: South African flautist charms audience in Kuwait . 2022-04-24 . timeskuwait.com. 20 April 2019 .
  34. Web site: Sport, Arts, and Culture unveils digital heritage week Dubai Expo exhibition South African Government . 2022-04-24 . gov.za.
  35. Web site: Mabandu . Percy . Fitting finale to a triumphant tour – Ode To Joy . 2022-12-25 . City Press . en-US.
  36. 1694336061206385139 . wouterkellerman . View from the stage last night - such an incredible privilege to play an intimate 60 minute set for three powerful leaders - the President of SA, Prime Minister of India and President of Brazil . Wouter . Kellerman . August 23, 2023.
  37. 1694336061206385139 . wouterkellerman . Such a thrill to preform at BRICS Summit Gala dinner for more than 54 heads of state including the Presidents of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. . Wouter . Kellerman . August 24, 2023. https://twitter.com/wouterkellerman/status/1694726013060853788
  38. Web site: Andrew . Germishuys . South African Recording Artist Nominated For Grammy Award . 2024-04-17 . SAMDB . en-US.
  39. Web site: 2010-09-28 . Violinist Helen Vosloo introduces the Keiskamma Music Academy – News from ClassicSA . 2023-04-10 . Cool Classic Kidz . en.
  40. News: Apr 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415083727/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-late-edition/20220404/281603833987191 . 'Homeland' song reminds SA of forced immigrants' pain . Apr 4, 2022 . Sifiso Mahlangu . The Star Late Edition . en . 8 August 2023 . . live.
  41. Web site: 2020-12-08 . Turquoise Harmony Institute to host refugee concert . 2023-04-10 . Music in Africa . en.
  42. Web site: Wouter Kellerman . 2024-04-18 . The Kennedy Centre . en-US.
  43. Web site: The South African Music Awards winners 2010. 17 April 2010. 7 October 2012.
  44. Web site: The South African Music Awards winners 2011. 21 May 2011. MediaAlive. 6 October 2012.
  45. Web site: Wouter Kellerman . 4 April 2024 . HDS Entertainment.
  46. Web site: Wouter Kellerman . grammy.com . . 15 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230412113501/https://www.grammy.com/artists/wouter-kellerman/18528 . 12 April 2023 . en . live.
  47. Web site: 1 October 2020 . CD Review: Wouter Kellerman . 2024-04-18 . The Flute Review.
  48. Web site: 14 December 2015 . Another Grammy Nod For SA's Flautist . 2024-04-18 . Sheer Publishing News.
  49. Web site: 2016-02-13 . Will it be Grammy number two for SA flute sensation? . 2023-04-09 . Mail & Guardian. en-ZA.
  50. Web site: Friedman . Sandy . 14 September 2015 . Grammy Award Winning Wouter Kellerman Debut's at #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart For His Newly Release Album Titled 'Love Language' . 2024-04-18 . PR Newswire.
  51. Web site: Here are all the 2016 Sama winners. Channel. 2016-06-08.
  52. Web site: The 2016 Global Peace Song Awards announces an update in winners categories. Ltd. Bozas International. PRLog. 2016-08-18.
  53. Web site: USA Songwriting Competition Winner Wouter Kellerman receives a Grammy Nomination . 2023-04-09 . songwriting.net . en-us.
  54. News:
    1. SAMAs 2018: Full list of the winners from this year's awards
    . Haden. Alexis. 2018-06-03. The South African. 2018-06-08. en-US.
  55. Web site: Vivier . Tyler Leigh . 2019-11-21 . Ndlovu Youth Choir & Wouter Kellerman win award for music video collaboration . 2023-04-09 . Good Things Guy . en-ZA.
  56. Web site: Timoteo . Cynthia . 23 April 2020 . The 18th Independent Music Award Nominations . The Daily Rind . en-US.
  57. Web site: Timoteo . Cynthia . 23 April 2020 . The 18th Independent Music Awards Nominations . 2021-04-14 . The Daily Rind . en-US.
  58. Web site: 2020-07-15 . SAMAs 2020: All the nominees . 2023-04-09 . Music in Africa . en.
  59. Web site: 2020-07-15 . SAMAs 2020: All the nominees . 2023-04-09 . Music in Africa . en.
  60. Web site: 2020 Music Genre Nominees . 2021-04-14. hmmawards.com.
  61. Web site: 2020 Music in Visual Media Nominations . 2021-04-16. hmmawards.com.
  62. Coetzee . Compiled by Nikita . SA flautist Wouter Kellerman snags Grammy nomination . 2023-04-09 . Life . en-US.

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