The powerful combination of their unique modern instruments, their slick, gorgeous image and their brilliant performance makes Sterling a ‘must have’ for your next event.
Sterling “Electric Quartet” (popularly known as Sterling EQ) has taken the South African entertainment industry by storm with their genre-defying musical style and sensational live performance. What started out in 2007 as a corporate show, exploded into a musical phenomenon which the public and media alike cannot seem to get enough of. For the first year, a pool of musicians represented Sterling, rather than an established quartet of four set members. Towards the latter half of 2008, public demand led to the recording of an album (“Nova”), which also meant the time had come for Sterling to settle into a unit of permanent performers.
The result was a quartet whose members captivate audiences from all walks of life with their dazzling display of virtuosity and vibrant stage presence. The members’ undeniable talent and energy, coupled with their interesting backgrounds (flautist Carina Bruwer is also a record-holding marathon swimmer, electric cellist Ariella Caira is a qualified actress, and electric violinist Eriel Huang is actively involved in the Asian community of South Africa) fascinate and charm the public, media and critics alike, the effect of which has cemented Sterling as arguably the most famous “string quartet” in Africa.
Defining Sterling’s style is a task not even the members dare attempt! Their music is inspired by so many different genres from various eras stretching over 5 centuries; “from Mozart to Mandoza” is a phrase they often use when describing the content of their repertoire. Juxtaposing “diverse” musical styles like Classical and Latin House; Baroque and Kwaito, keeps Sterling’s audiences on their toes (and often on the dance floor!) and proves that the stylistic boundaries to which we’ve become so accustomed, are certainly not set in stone. Being an instrumental group, Sterling has the freedom of communicating with their audience on a purely musical level, which adds to the success of this “mystery style” they practice. The absence of lyrics means Sterling can appeal to their audience through melody and energy, not ideology.
With success often comes controversy and Sterling is no exception. Some of the more traditional Classical music practitioners do not approve the “Sterling genre”, and perceive it to be a "slap in face" of Classical music and the Great Composers. And even though only a portion of Sterling’s music is Classically inspired, the fact that they use Classical instruments (however modernized and electrified!) to make what is essentially commercial music, is something some purists struggle with. Sterling, however, welcomes and encourages this controversy, as they believe this only grows the interest in them and their music, and therefore aids them in their quest to take their music as far as it can go.
Their success is evident from the myriad high profile EVENTS AND CONCERTS in which Sterling took part in the past year. Highlights include performing at the South African Music Awards (SAMA’s), sharing a stage with South Africa’s superstars; performances at the IPL Cricket Tournament's opening matches which was broadcast to millions of viewers across the globe, collaborations with disco icon Boney M in Dubai and Durban during the World Travel Awards, performing at the WBHO launch of the Cape Town Stadium, accompanied by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, performing at the FIFA 2010 Final Draw Long Street Party, International Cricket Council Awards, J&B Met, festivals such as Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Cultivaria, Wacky Wine, Varingfees and Forbidden Fruit, 5 international performances in 2009 and numerous corporate performances across South Africa.
Recent MEDIA COVERAGE includes substantial TV features on Top Billing, All Access, Dis Hoe Dit Is met Steve, Showbiz Report (ETV), DKNT, Kwela, Glitterati (Kyknet), Luvsport (SS1), Pasella; articles, features and editorials in Die Burger, Die Rapport, Son, Cape Times, Cape & Weekend Argus (incl front page), 48Hours (incl front page), magazine articles in Sawubona, Sarie, Vrouekeur, Rooi Rose, Glamour, Out & About, and Marie Claire, to name but a few.
Sterling’s debut album “Nova”, produced by the multiple award-winning Gabi Le Roux, was released in March 2009 and was nominated for a coveted SAMA Award. Their debut music video “Nova – The Movie”, directed by the multiple SAMA award-winning Lara Hollis, was released in December 2009, and has been hailed as a “breathtaking production” by various industry and media insiders. The video is playlisted on most of SA’s major television channels. In April 2010, Sterling released their first live DVD – Sterling EQ Live in Concert (filmed at the Artscape Opera House in front of a 1200-strong live audience); a release that has undoubtedly cemented Sterling’s reputation as one of the most successful instrumental acts ever to emerge from South Africa.
A self-released, self-made band, Sterling EQ will keep testing the boundaries as long as the audience is listening…
MEMBERS
In their individually capacity, Carina, Ariella, Renate and Eriel are renowned performers with many years of experience. Combined, they are a force to be reckoned with.
CARINA - ELECTRIC FLUTE
Carina Bruwer (B.Mus Hons cum laude; UNISA Performers Licentiate cum laude) is a versatile soloist known for seamlessly fusing classical and contemporary styles (jazz, Latin, ethnic and crossover) in her performances. She has won numerous music awards, including the ATKV Muziq Category Prize, Distell Music Prize, Huguenot Prize, UNISA Overseas Study Bursary runner-up prize, plus SAMRO prizes, a.o. She has performed as soloist with the Cape Philharmonic, Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic and University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestras. Apart from solo performances across South Africa, Carina has also performed in Tunisia (as part of President Mbeki's inaugural state visit) and Spain. Apart from performing solo and with Sterling, Carina has also performed and recorded with the Classical ACE Quartet, Casta Alma flamenco band, and the Latin band Salsa Candela.
Carina, who is the manager Sterling and owner of the brand, also founded and owns Five Seasons Entertainment Agency. Carina is coincidentally also SA’s most decorated female marathon swimmer, with various national and international records to her name. She has enjoyed extensive media coverage, including lifestyle features on Gillette World Sport (international), Pasella (SABC2), The Power Within (SABC3) Kwela (Kyknet); as well as prime time news inserts on SABC1, 2 and 3 and ETV. In print media she has made the front page of most local newspapers, and has been featured in glossies including Sarie, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Sports Illustrated and Shape Magazine, amongst many others. With titles like Cosmo’s Awesome Women, Glamour’s “Women We Love”, and Sports Illustrated’s “Top 10 Beauties of Sport” to her name, Carina’s talent and versatility certainly has not gone unnoticed Read more about Carina here...
ARIELLA - ELETRIC CELLO
Ariella Caira has been playing music since the age of 5 and has completed her grade 8 examinations for Piano, Cello and Percussion with distinction. Studying under distinguished cellist Anmari van der Westhuizen, Ariella turned her focus to the cello. Over the years she has played in numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the National Youth Orchestra, and participated in several competitions including the Sanlam music competition while in Junior School and in the Absa Competition while in High School. In 2000 she won the Herschel Girls' High School music scholarship and she matriculated in 2004.
Torn between a love of music and drama, Ariella chose to follow her passion for Theatre after matriculating. She graduated from her honours degree in Theatre and Performance in 2008 with distinction and first place for English Acting.
A chamber musician at heart, Ariella has performed with various quartets and other ensembles, including the ACE Quartet, Wired and Pizzazz. Her diversity as a cellist as well as her wide interest in musical genres has lead her to partake in interesting projects, such as The Ten Tenors South Africa Tour and session recordings for animation. Read more about Ariella here...
ERIEL - ELECTRIC VIOLIN
Eriel (Yee Chen) Huang (25) was born in Taiwan and lived there until the age of 6, when she immigrated to South Africa with her family. After obtaining her BMus degree from the University of Pretoria in 2007, she moved to Cape Town to further her violin studies under the renowned Professor Jack de Wet. As a soloist, Eriel has performed at many high profile events, including Fundraising Concerts for Taiwan, University of Pretoria Engineering Concerts; Sandton Art Gallery Concerts; other Gala and private concerts, ambassadorial functions for the USA and Taiwanese offices.
Eriel has a wealth of orchestral and ensemble experience, including Concert Master positions of the Musicanti Chamber Orchestra and the MIAGI Youth Orchestra, Orchestra in Celebration of New Coin Unveiling at the SA Mint in Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra, National School of the Arts Orchestra; Co- and/or Vice-Concert Master for the Con Spirito Philharmonic Orchestra, Norway Toppenkurst Music School Orchestra, and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra; First Violin for the 2007 World Aids Day Concert, two Andrew Young World Music Tours, The Magic Flute Opera under William Kentridge in Johannesburg, and Jazz Meets Symphony Concerts in Durban and Johannesburg by the Jazz Foundation; as well as various ad hoc first and second violin positions with, amongst others, the Cape Philharmonic, the Johannesburg Philharmonic, and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestras.
Apart from performing, Eriel has been guest teacher at the Taiwan Young Artist Training Institution (Taipei Conductor Academy) for the past 6 years; and in 2008 she was selected as a South African representative by the USA Department of State, to participate in the International Fusion Arts Exchange Programme in Boston.
Read more about Eriel here...
RENATE- ELECTRIC VIOLIN RENATE RIEDEMANN started violin lessons at Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre at the age of 7. There she was chosen as the co-leader of the Young Strings Orchestra in 1996. In 1998 she was elected as the principal violinist for the String Ensemble, and in 2000 she was recommended as the leader of the Intermediate String Orchestra. In her third year of study at the University of Stellenbosch she performed as concertmaster for the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra. She passed all her UNISA exams with distinction and obtained a place on the UNISA roll of honour in 1999. She has won numerous prizes such as the Kenridge Primary trophy for exceptional achievement in music and the DF Malan High School subject award in 2000 and 2002. She matriculated with distinction obtaining four A’s. In 2003 she received lessons from well-known violinist, Suzanne Martens.
Renate started her studies at the University of Stellenbosch in 2005 and was invited to become a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society due to outstanding academic achievement in 2006. In 2007 she completed her B.Mus degree Cum Laude and in 2008 she obtained her Hons.B.Mus majoring on violin performance. She received the L.E. Smallie bursary for two consecutive years, HA Molteno bursary, FAK postgraduate bursary, University of Stellenbosch Women’s Association Award for musical performance and Helpmekaar bursary due to academic records.
She received masterclasses from Jan Repko (solo), BjÖrn Bantok (ensemble), Denise Sutton (ensemble) Albie van Schalkwyk (ensemble) and Daniel Rowland (solo). She has performed at numerous concerts both as soloist and ensemble player. In 2006 her ensemble was chosen as one of the finalists at the National Ensemble Competition. She also plays as ad hoc musician for Con Spirito Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Namibia Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Fokkens’ Symphony Choir and the Winelands Orchestra. Read more about Renate here...
Carina Bruwer (B.Mus Hons cum laude; UNISA Performers Licentiate cum laude) is a versatile soloist known for seamlessly fusing classical and contemporary styles (jazz, Latin, ethnic and crossover) in her performances. She has won numerous music awards, including the ATKV Muziq Category Prize, Distell Music Prize, Huguenot Prize, UNISA Overseas Study Bursary runner-up prize, plus SAMRO prizes, a.o. She has performed as soloist with the Cape Philharmonic, Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic and University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestras. Apart from solo performances across South Africa, Carina has also performed in Tunisia (as part of President Mbeki's inaugural state visit) and Spain. Apart from performing solo and with Sterling, Carina has also performed and recorded with the Classical ACE Quartet, Casta Alma flamenco band, and the Latin band Salsa Candela.
Eriel (Yee Chen) Huang (25) was born in Taiwan and lived there until the age of 6, when she immigrated to South Africa with her family. After obtaining her BMus degree from the University of Pretoria in 2007, she moved to Cape Town to further her violin studies under the renowned Professor Jack de Wet. As a soloist, Eriel has performed at many high profile events, including Fundraising Concerts for Taiwan, University of Pretoria Engineering Concerts; Sandton Art Gallery Concerts; other Gala and private concerts, ambassadorial functions for the USA and Taiwanese offices.
RENATE RIEDEMANN started violin lessons at Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre at the age of 7. There she was chosen as the co-leader of the Young Strings Orchestra in 1996. In 1998 she was elected as the principal violinist for the String Ensemble, and in 2000 she was recommended as the leader of the Intermediate String Orchestra. In her third year of study at the University of Stellenbosch she performed as concertmaster for the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra. She passed all her UNISA exams with distinction and obtained a place on the UNISA roll of honour in 1999. She has won numerous prizes such as the Kenridge Primary trophy for exceptional achievement in music and the DF Malan High School subject award in 2000 and 2002. She matriculated with distinction obtaining four A’s. In 2003 she received lessons from well-known violinist, Suzanne Martens.