DuPreez Strauss

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DuPreez Strauss
DuPreez Strauss, 2012
Born (1978-06-07) 7 June 1978 (age 45)
Pretoria, South Africa
Occupation(s)Music director and tv personality

Cornelis Johannes DuPreez Strauss (born 7 June 1978) is a South African music director, TV, theatre and radio producer, composer, lyricist, writer, casting director, orchestra conductor and TV personality. He is mostly known for starring in the TV series SugaRushed and for conducting stage versions of Disney's The Lion King.

Education[edit]

Strauss was classically trained on the piano for 17 years. He passed cum laude the final piano examinations of both the University of South Africa and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (London, England).[1] He completed his high school career with seven distinctions in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He was awarded Hennie Joubert Prize by the University of South Africa, given to the top music students in the country. Strauss holds two cum laude University Degrees: In Philosophy, Psychology, Art, History of Art, Communications and Languages. He was awarded Best Humanities Student from the University of the Free State.

In 2007, he moved to New York where he learned orchestra conducting at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City [2] from Maestro Vincent La Selva.

He is a lapsed member of Mensa,[3] the organisation open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. He is also an invited member of The Golden Key International Honour Society that recognises outstanding academic achievement and connects high-achieving individuals globally.

Career[edit]

Strauss was Music Director for the South African a cappella group Overtone[4] when they were discovered by Dina Eastwood.[5] They went on to perform the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood's feature film Invictus (film).

Strauss has musically directed many full-scale theatre productions, including Sweeney Todd (FrenchWoods, New York City), South African Best New Musical 2003 award winner Mercury Rising,[6][7] Big Top Burlesque,[8] Somebody To Love,[9] Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living in Paris[10][11] and Divas of Music and Dance.[12] In addition, Strauss conducted Disney's The Lion King (musical) in South Africa (2008), Taiwan (2009) and Singapore (2011).[13][14][15] He also worked with director Julie Taymor, Lebo M Garth Fagan on revising "The Lion King" for its 10th Anniversary production.

From 2012 - 2013, Strauss starred in SugaRushed,[16][17] a reality soap about him and his music producer partner, Bradley Africa, running a record label.[18][19][20] The series was aired on TopTV in South Africa[21][22] and is currently on air in 11 other countries on the Zuku pay channel broadcaster.

Strauss composes regularly for TV, including The Heart is Beautiful, Robinson Regstreek, Spieelbeeld and Emily Hobhouse, as well as composing for his own show SugaRushed.

Strauss co-produced "Jacobsbaai", the first ever English-and-multi-African-language play in New York City, at the Cherry Lane Theatre.[23] He co-produced and co-presented the "Outspoken" radio show, which broadcasts to all of Sub-Saharan Africa.[24]

Strauss composed, performed and produced the song "Hidroponies" by his band "ZombieVampire", as well as directing the music video. The music video was in the official selection of the Out Twin Cities International Film Festival in Minneapolis in 2012.[25]

Strauss has starred as TV actor in the South African soaps "Scandal" and "Villa Rosa" (2011) and the drama series "Intersexions", as well as acting in Canadian film director Bruce LaBruce's "X-Homes".[26][27]

Strauss was one of the faces of Mustang Jeans and Underwear (2011 worldwide campaign) shot by Danish photographer Klaus Thymann.[28]

He is a contributing writer, model, and one-time photoshoot director for Fashion TV Magazine.[citation needed]

Strauss has conducted The African Children's Choir who have performed with Mariah Carey, Bob Geldof, Paul McCartney, Wyclef Jean and Josh Groban. The choir has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[citation needed]

Strauss has performed for the likes of Oprah Winfrey,[29] Celine Dion, Elton John, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon[30][31] and Nelson Mandela.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "DUPREEZ STRAUSS - ACTOR Resume, Photos, Videos, News, Contact". Talent Pages. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  2. ^ MonteCasino Theatre Shows [failed verification]
  3. ^ "File:DuPreez Strauss Mensa Member Cerificate.jpg". wikimedia.org.
  4. ^ "city of Johannesburg - Overtone sings Queen's praises". joburg.org.za. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. ^ "SA group stars of Eastwood reality show". Channel.
  6. ^ Durban City Government Gazette, April 21st, 2006, page 4
  7. ^ "Artslink.co.za - Mercury Rising moves to Menlyn in Pretoria". Artslink.
  8. ^ "22 - July - 2013 - Chic Jozi". chicjozi.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013.
  9. ^ MonteCasino Theatre Shows
  10. ^ Tsumele, Edward (25 January 2010). "Sentimental trip to the 70s". The Sowetan Newspaper. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  11. ^ Die Burger Newspaper, January 19, 2010, page 13 Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Artslink.co.za - Divas of Music and Dance". Artslink.
  13. ^ "DuPreez Strauss". tvsa.co.za.
  14. ^ "The Modernist Tailoring - Blog - Du Preez Strauss wearing his suit from The Modernist Tailoring". themodernisttailoring.co.za. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  15. ^ "dupreez strauss". FilmContact.com.
  16. ^ "SugaRushed". tvsa.co.za.
  17. ^ "Top tune can land you a sweet deal". Independent Online.
  18. ^ "TopTV&'s local talent search show". screenafrica.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  19. ^ "TopTV to launch a new reality TV show, SugaRushed :: Media Update". mediaupdate.co.za.
  20. ^ I Speak Hip Hop Magazine Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ TopTV
  22. ^ "TopTV's new music show is looking for Singers, songwriters and Musicians - YoMzansi邃｢ BLOG - HIGHEST GRADE SOURCE of SA Entertainment News". yomzansi.com.
  23. ^ Rapport Newspaper, July 21st, 2008, Page 18 Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Radio Today Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Out Twin Cities Film Festival Official Selection 2012". Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  26. ^ David Smith. "A weird and wonderful art project in dystopic Johannesburg". the Guardian.
  27. ^ Anthea Buys. "X Homes marks the spot". The M&G Online.
  28. ^ "MD Management : ANNA Chyzh für VOTRE BEAUTÉ, JANA K. in COSTUME NATIONAL Kampagne und für die AMERICAN VOGUE unterwegs in der City - News - GoSee". gosee.de.
  29. ^ Independent Newspapers Online. "Oprah at The Lion King opening". Independent Online.
  30. ^ "091120-5". pineconearchive.com.
  31. ^ "Matt Damon News Column - Sondag article, Mandela Project". livejournal.com.
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