Niel Immelman
South African pianist Niel Immelman was born on 13 August 1944 and grew up in Jacobsdal then later in Bloemfontein. His first teacher was his mother, Nettie Immelman. Later he studied with Cyril Smith at the Royal College of Music in London, and also with Ilona Kabos, Lamar Crowson and Maria Curcio. Whilst a student in London, he made his professional debut in Rachmaninov's Paganini Rhapsody with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Bernard Haitink.
Based in the UK, he became a specialist in Czech music, recording the piano music of Vítězslav Novák and Josef Suk for Meridian. He also taught piano at the Royal College of Music and served on the juries of various international piano competitions.
Niel Immelman died in June 2023, aged seventy-eight.