About Lize Briel

Lize Briel is an internationally award-winning composer known for work in film, installation, and contemporary concert music. Based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, she is drawn to themes of environment and identity, and often integrates African instruments into her compositions. 

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Briel was the composer-in-residence at the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) for 2024-2025. She won the CPO South African Composers’ Award in 2024, making her the first woman to win a South African composition prize. Her work, Echoes: a minimalist dialogue, was performed in Germany in April 2024.

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Lize's compositions has received international recognition: Briel earned Top 5 in Africa in the European Recording Orchestra Call-for-Scores in 2025 and third prize in the #CreateCOP28 competition by Art Partner in 2023. Her work, Ocean Soundscape: An Installation about Ocean Pollution, composed for string quintet, trash, and electronics, garnered international recognition and was showcased at the prestigious United Nations Headquarters in New York in December 2023.

 

Briel's talent in film music has earned her recognition, as demonstrated by her selection as part of the shortlist for the Score Relief 2024 Competition by TheCueTube. Additionally, she has scored several short films created by Visual Art Students from Stellenbosch University in 2022 and 2023, showcasing her versatility and dedication to collaborative projects. Lize is currently enrolled at the Musicube Academy for Film Scoring based in Bonn, Germany; allowing her to continue to work on the craft.

 

Educated under the mentorship of Mr. Arthur Feder and Dr. Antoni Schonken, Briel earned her Master's of Music in Composition (Cum Laude) in March 2025. Briel's musical education extends beyond composition, encompassing performance and conducting. She studied flute under Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen, achieving proficiency at the university level. Additionally, she undertook two years of orchestral conducting training to further broaden her musical expertise. Currently, Briel is actively engaged in studying African instruments, particularly the uHadi under the mentorship of Dr. Ncebakazi Mnukwana and kiganda under Vuyo Katsha. This immersion enables her to integrate these instruments into her compositions.

 

Briel has performed in events such as the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival and the South African Composers’ Symposium. Additionally, she has organised concerts featuring her own compositions in the Endler and Fismer Halls at Stellenbosch University, as well as The Iziko South African Museum. Playing and improvising with the Africa Open Improvisation group has further enriched her musical exploration.

 

Lize's commitment to growth is evident in her active participation in workshops and competitions, including the Workshop for African Music Category of SUNEC and the Composer Workshop at the South African Strings Convention. She also engaged in a workshop hosted by SASRIM for Electronic Music with Shane Cooper, furthering her exploration of diverse musical techniques and contemporary approaches to composition.

 

As a collaborator, Briel has co-composed pieces exploring fusion genres with various performers, created animations with visual artists from Stellenbosch University, and collaborated on projects addressing social issues. She is also involved in composing for film and multimedia installations, aspiring to create music with social impact and immersive sensory experiences.