Wouter Kellerman

South African producer and flautist

Wouter Kellerman

Born|  (1961-09-20) 20 September 1961 (age 63)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Genres| World, Roots, Classical, Jazz, Instrumental
Occupation(s)| Musician, Composer & Producer
Instrument(s)| Flute, "c" flute (traverse flute), Bass Flute, Fife, Alto Flute, Bansuri (Indian Flute)
Years active| 1981–present
Website| wouterkellerman.org

Musical artist

Wouter Kellerman (born 20 September 1961) is a three-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, Roots and New Age 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,[12] and winning awards like the HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Awards) for 'Best Independent Music Video'[13] – 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[14], 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[15] 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.[16] In 2025, he won his third Grammy Award for Triveni, his collaborative album with Chandrika Tandon and Eru Matsumoto, in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category.[17]

Kellerman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Art and Design from Tshwane University of Technology in October 2024.[18][19]

## Performance highlights

[edit]

* Kellerman performed at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Soccer World Cup for 700 million people.[20]
* Performed at the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg in 2010,[21] 2016[22] and 2022.[23]
* Performed at the 2017 Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia.[24]
* Performed at the South African/Russia Cultural Season in St Petersburg in Russia in November 2017[25]
* Performed at the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, China[26]
* Performed at the 2010 opening of Midem in Cannes, France. Midem is the world's biggest music conference.[27]
* Performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 2012[28] and 2015
* Performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC in October 2014,[29] October 2015[30][31] and November 2019[32][33]
* Performed at the Woodford Folk Festival in Australia in 2013/2014[34]
* Performed at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur, India in October 2015[35] and 2018[36]
* Performed for the President of India in December 2015[37]
* Performed in Johannesburg for the visiting Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and a television audience of more than 200 million people in June 2016.[38]
* Performed in Kuwait at the Al Yarmouk Theater on 17 April 2019, at a show coordinated by the South African Embassy.[39]
* Performed at the Dubai Expo in Dubai in October 2021, opening Heritage Week for South Africa.[40]
* Performed as soloist with the South African Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town in December 2022[41]
* Performed an intimate hour-long concert for 9 people only, which included the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of China Xi Jinping, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in August 2023.[42]
* Performed at the BRICS Gala Dinner for 55 heads of state in August 2023.[43]

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

## Philanthropy

[edit]

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.[44] 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.[45]

Wouter has worked closely and performs regularly with the charity 67 Blankets For Nelson Mandela.[46]

Kellerman recorded a song called 'Homeland' for Refugees awareness in March 2022[47] and performed on 10 December 2020 for the NPO Turquoise Harmony Institute to raise awareness of the plight of refugees[48]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Recipient  | Award  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2007  | Wouter Kellerman  | Inyathelo Special Recognition Award for Philanthropy  | Nominated  | [49]
2008  | South African Music Award (SAMA) for 'Colour' – 'Best Instrumental Album'  | Nominated  |
2010  | SAMA for Best Instrumental/Jazz/popular Classical DVD for Live in Mzansi | Won  | [50]
2011  | SAMA for Best Instrumental Album for Two Voices | Won  | [51]
2013  | Vox Pop IMA (Independent Music Award) for Best World Beat Album for 'Mzansi'  | Won  | [52]
2014  | HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Awards): World Music and New Age  | Nominated  |
2015  | Wouter Kellerman / Ricky Kej | 57th Annual Grammy Award for 'Best New Age Album' for 'Winds of Samsara'  | Won  | [15]
Wouter Kellerman  | SAMA for 'Best Instrumental Album' for 'Winds of Samsara'  | Won  |
SAMA for 'Best Producer of the Year' for 'Winds of Samsara'  | Won  |
SAMA for 'Best International Achievement'  | Won  |
ZMR award for Best World Album for 'Winds of Samsara'  | Won  | [53]
ZMR award for Album of the Year for 'Winds of Samsara'  | Won  | [54]
2016  | 58th Grammy Award for 'Best Contemporary Instrumental Album' for 'Love Language'  | Nominated  | [55][6]
ZMR award for Best World Album for 'Love Language'  | Nominated  | [56]
SAMA for 'Best Instrumental and/or Classical Album' for 'Love Language'  | Won  | [57]
Global Peace Song Award in the public voted Acoustic/ Contemporary Music category  | Won  | [58]
2017  | Wouter Kellerman / Soweto Gospel Choir  | HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Awards): Best World Music Song and Best Music Video  | Nominated  |
Wouter Kellerman  | USA Songwriting Competition – Best Instrumental Composition  | Won  | [59]
2018  | Wouter Kellerman / Soweto Gospel Choir  | SAMA for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' for 'Symphonic Soweto, a Tribute to Nelson Mandela'  | Won  | [60]
2019  | Wouter Kellerman / Ndlovu Youth Choir  | HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for Independent Music Video  | Won  | [61]
2020  | Wouter Kellerman  | IMA (Independent Music Awards) for Best Social Action Video for 'Baroque to the Rescue' (feat. Konshens The MC and Lady Zamar)  | Won  | [62]
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Concept Album for 'In A Different Light'  | Nominated  | [63]
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Producer of an Instrumental Album for 'In A Different Light'  | Nominated  | [63]
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Social Action Song for 'Baroque to the Rescue' (feat. Konshens The MC and Lady Zamar)  | Nominated  | [63]
IMA (Independent Music Awards) Best Performance Video for 'Shape of You' (feat. Ndlovu Youth Choir)  | Nominated  | [63]
SAMA for the 'Best Produced Album of the Year' for 'In A Different Light'  | Nominated  | [64]
Wouter Kellerman  |  | Nominated  | [65]
Wouter Kellerman/ Nadia Shpachenko  | HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for 'Catching Up'  | Nominated  | [66]
Wouter Kellerman/ Mzansi Youth Choir  | HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for 'Best Independent Music Video' for 'The Climb'  | Nominated  | [67]
2021  | Wouter Kellerman  | SAMA for 'Best Classical/Instrumental Album' for We’ve Known All Times  | Won  |
2021  | Wouter Kellerman/David Arkenstone  | 64th GRAMMY Award for 'Best New Age Album' for 'Pangaea'  | Nominated  | [68]
2022  | Wouter Kellerman/Nomcebo Zikode/Zakes Bantwini  | 65th GRAMMY Award for 'Best Global Music Performance' for 'Bayethe'  | Won  | [15]
2023  | Wouter Kellerman  | SAMA 29 International Achievement  | Won  |  |
2024  | Wouter Kellerman  | Received an Honorary Doctorate of Art and Design from Tshwane University of Technology  |  | [69][70] |
2024  | Wouter Kellerman  | Received an Alumni Dignitas Award from University of Johannesburg  |  | [71] |
2025  | Wouter Kellerman, Chandrika Tandon, Eru Matsumoto  | 67th GRAMMY Award for 'Best New Age, Ambient Or Chant Album' for 'Triveni'  | Won  | [17] |

## Albums

[edit]

* Colour (2007)
* Two Voices (2010)
* Half Moon (2012)
* Mzansi (2013)
* Winds of Samsara (2014)
* Love Language (2015)
* Symphonic Soweto, a Tribute to Nelson Mandela (2017)
* In A Different Light (2019)
* We've Known All Times (2020)
* Pangaea (2021)
* Triveni (2024)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wouter Kellerman | Artist". grammy.com. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
2. ^ Alive, Media (21 May 2011). "The South African Music Awards winners 2011". MediaAlive. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
3. ^ "Grammy Nominations". Grammy® Awards. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
4. ^ "Billboard Charts, New Age Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
5. ^ "ZMR(Zone Music Reporter) charts". ZMR. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
6. ^ a b "Grammy Nomination for Wouter Kellerman". bsharpentertainment.co.za/music. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
7. ^ "Here are all the 2016 Sama winners". Channel. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
8. ^ "SA's Wouter Kellerman hits No 1 on Billboard chart". citizen.co.za. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
9. ^ "New Age / Ambient / World Top 100 Radio Chart". zonemusicreporter.com (Press release). Retrieved 24 February 2016.
10. ^ "Symphonic Soweto". Symphonic Soweto. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
11. ^ "#SAMAs 2018: Full list of the winners from this year's awards". The South African. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
12. ^ Ndlovu Youth Choir and GRAMMY-winning flutist Wouter Kellerman – Shape of You – Ed Sheeran, retrieved 22 September 2019
13. ^ "HMMA Winners". hmmawards.com. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
14. ^ "In A Different Light". In A Different Light. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
15. ^ a b c "Wouter Kellerman". grammy.com. Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
16. ^ "Kellerman, Bantwini, Zikode win Grammy award". SABC News. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023.
17. ^ a b "Wouter Kellerman | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
18. ^ "Tshwane University of Technology - Dr Wouter Kellerman: The Grammy-awards winning pied piper of South African music". www.tut.ac.za. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
19. ^ "Tshwane University of Technology - TUT to confer honorary doctorates on four remarkable individuals". www.tut.ac.za. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
20. ^ "JB Arthur | Event Music Production | Sound Design Johannesburg South Africa". jbarthur.co.za. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
21. ^ "The colour of music". Mail & Guardian. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
22. ^ yomzansi (18 May 2016). "2016 Joy of Jazz will bring international & local acts on one stage". Yomzansi. Documenting the Culture. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
23. ^ Patience, Bambalele. "SA Talent Dazzles At Joy of Jazz". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
24. ^ AustralianMusician (17 April 2017). "Bluesfest 2017: Wouter Kellerman". Australian Musician Magazine. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
25. ^ "Russia SA Cultural Seasons return to South Africa | Department of Arts and Culture". dac.gov.za. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
26. ^ Mafika (19 October 2010). "Shanghai Expo boosts South Africa's profile". Brand South Africa. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
27. ^ Mafika (27 January 2010). "Wouter Kellerman: magic on flute". Brand South Africa. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
28. ^ Gullard, Maria (25 July 2012). "Flautist Wouter Kellerman focuses on mood at the Kennedy Center". The Examiner. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
29. ^ "Vincent Lyn, Wouter Kellerman and David Longoria". musicnews.com. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
30. ^ Jackson, Joe (4 October 2014). "Jazz Pianist Vincent Lyn Plays Carnegie Hall in a Double Bill With Flutist Wouter Kellerman". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
31. ^ Kellerman, Wouter. "Grammy Award Winning Wouter Kellerman Debuts at #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart for His Newly Release Album Titled "Love Language"" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
32. ^ BWW News Desk. "The Indie Collaborative Comes To Carnegie Hall". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
33. ^ "The Bluestone Sisters Grant Maloy Smith". carnegiehall.org. Carnegie Hall. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
34. ^ "Woodford Folk Festival Unleash Massive Program". themusic.com.au. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
35. ^ "Wouter Kellerman performs at Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur – Times of India". The Times of India. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
36. ^ "Jodhpur RIFF Scheduled Program 24th to 28th October 2018". 24 August 2018.
37. ^ Zee Music Company (11 January 2016), Shanti Samsara Live & Exclusive for President of India | Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman, retrieved 3 February 2016
38. ^ "10,000 people to take part in PM Modi's reception in South Africa". 30 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
39. ^ "South African flautist charms audience in Kuwait". timeskuwait.com. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
40. ^ "Sport, Arts, and Culture unveils digital heritage week Dubai Expo exhibition | South African Government". gov.za. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
41. ^ Mabandu, Percy. "Fitting finale to a triumphant tour – Ode To Joy". City Press. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
42. ^ Kellerman, Wouter [@wouterkellerman] (23 August 2023). "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" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
43. ^ Kellerman, Wouter [@wouterkellerman] (24 August 2023). "Such a thrill to perform at BRICS Summit Gala dinner for more than 54 heads of state including the Presidents of Brazil, India, China and South Africa" (Tweet) - via Twitter.[1]
44. ^ Andrew, Germishuys. "South African Recording Artist Nominated For Grammy Award". SAMDB. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
45. ^ "Violinist Helen Vosloo introduces the Keiskamma Music Academy – News from ClassicSA". Cool Classic Kidz. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
46. ^ Interview with Wouter Kellerman from 67 Blankets, retrieved 10 April 2023
47. ^ Sifiso Mahlangu (4 April 2022). "'Homeland' song reminds SA of forced immigrants' pain". The Star Late Edition. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023 - via PressReader.
48. ^ "Turquoise Harmony Institute to host refugee concert". Music in Africa. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
49. ^ "Wouter Kellerman". The Kennedy Centre. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
50. ^ "The South African Music Awards winners 2010". 17 April 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
51. ^ "The South African Music Awards winners 2011". MediaAlive. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
52. ^ "Wouter Kellerman". HDS Entertainment. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
53. ^ "CD Review: Wouter Kellerman". The Flute Review. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
54. ^ "Another Grammy Nod For SA's Flautist". Sheer Publishing News. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
55. ^ "Will it be Grammy number two for SA flute sensation?". Mail & Guardian. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
56. ^ 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'". PR Newswire. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
57. ^ "Here are all the 2016 Sama winners". Channel. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
58. ^ Ltd, Bozas International. "The 2016 Global Peace Song Awards announces an update in winners categories". PRLog. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
59. ^ "USA Songwriting Competition Winner Wouter Kellerman receives a Grammy Nomination". songwriting.net. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
60. ^ Haden, Alexis (3 June 2018). "#SAMAs 2018: Full list of the winners from this year's awards". The South African. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
61. ^ Vivier, Tyler Leigh (21 November 2019). "Ndlovu Youth Choir & Wouter Kellerman win award for music video collaboration". Good Things Guy. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
62. ^ Timoteo, Cynthia (23 April 2020). "The 18th Independent Music Award Nominations". The Daily Rind.
63. ^ a b c d Timoteo, Cynthia (23 April 2020). "The 18th Independent Music Awards Nominations". The Daily Rind. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
64. ^ "SAMAs 2020: All the nominees". Music in Africa. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
65. ^ "SAMAs 2020: All the nominees". Music in Africa. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
66. ^ "2020 Music Genre Nominees". hmmawards.com. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
67. ^ "2020 Music in Visual Media Nominations". hmmawards.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
68. ^ Coetzee, Compiled by Nikita. "SA flautist Wouter Kellerman snags Grammy nomination". Life. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
69. ^ "Tshwane University of Technology - Dr Wouter Kellerman: The Grammy-awards winning pied piper of South African music". www.tut.ac.za. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
70. ^ Mokoena, Thuso (18 October 2024). "TUT confers honorary doctorates on four remarkable individuals – Bulletin". Retrieved 29 October 2024.
71. ^ "UJ honouring pioneers in Higher Education and Community at the Council Awards". University of Johannesburg News. Retrieved 10 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz
* Grammy Awards

|