Music Scholar Hits the Right Note with 50th Anniversary Scholarship

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) 50^th Anniversary Scholarship is a merit-based award presented to an outstanding senior undergraduate student from each of the University’s four Colleges.

This year’s College of Humanities recipient, Ms Vivesha Govender, is a Bachelor of Arts in Music student whose love for music began when she was seven years old.

“I have loved music from a young age,” said Govender, who started learning to play the piano and read sheet music as a child. What began as a childhood passion remained with her through school and eventually became a field in which she could see herself working as a performer, composer or educator.

Govender began her studies at UKZN in 2024, feeling both nervous and excited about studying Music. The workload was overwhelming at first, but after her first semester she found her footing, settled into a routine and began to enjoy the content and pace of her studies.

One of her biggest challenges was finding a balance between university and her personal life. She realised that by constantly prioritising her studies, she had started to isolate herself. She responded by planning her time more carefully so that she could make time for friends while keeping up with her studies. Govender and her friends, in turn, motivated one another to stay on track.

For Govender, the scholarship represents much more than academic recognition. It reflects her journey from feeling burnt out in matric to becoming more confident in her abilities.

“After working hard and pushing myself, I can see that I have become a better student and feel as though this award symbolises the growth from that feeling of sadness to one of security and trust in my abilities,” she said.

A defining moment came during her first semester in ‘Composition A’, when she received feedback on her first song. Hearing her own composition come to life confirmed that she was in the right field. “The beauty of creating something so personal that can be shared and give people both that feeling and something to relate to through music is something I find incredible,” she said.

Govender credits her family and friends with helping her reach this point. They supported her through long days on campus, celebrated her academic successes and encouraged her whenever she doubted herself. She also acknowledges the support of her lecturers, who were available to assist when she struggled with concepts or needed guidance about her future studies.

Looking ahead, Govender hopes to complete an honours degree in Music Composition and work in the film and media industry as a composer, or pursue education as a Music Theory and English teacher. Through her work, she aims to inspire people to rediscover the joy of music and appreciate its creative possibilities, particularly at a time when technologies such as generative artificial intelligence are changing how people experience and create music.

Words: Rakshika Sibran

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini