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Since being diagnosed with breast cancer and focal dystonia in 2012 and Parkinson’s Disease in 2018, Nina Schumann has drawn on her status as one of South Africa’s foremost concert pianists to raise awareness about living with these conditions, while providing support and guidance to musicians navigating similar challenges.

As one of South Africa’s most distinguished pianists, Nina has shaped the landscape of classical music as both performer and educator. Hailing from a musical family in the historic town of Stellenbosch, Nina’s orchestral debut at the age of 15 marked the emergence of an extraordinary talent. In a career spanning decades, Nina has delivered over 150 concerto performances in Europe, the United States and South Africa, and boasts an extensive repertoire of 40 concertos.

For two decades, Nina was one half of the critically acclaimed TwoPianists duo, alongside Luis Magalhães. Their recordings earned praise from international publications such as Diapason, the International Record Review, Gramophone and Allmusic.com. The American Record Guide selected their second album as an Editor’s Choice. Emerging from this collaboration was the label TwoPianist Records, of which Nina is a director. The company won the South African Music Award for the Best Popular Classical Album two years in a row, and has its releases distributed internationally by Naxos.

Nina’s first recording with mezzo-soprano Michelle Breedt, titled Shakespeare Inspired, received the German Critics’ Choice Award. Further collaborative work has led to engagements at Wigmore Hall and Zürich Tonhalle, partnering with such luminaries as Ivry Gitlis, Bryn Terfel, Michelle Breedt and Daniel Rowland.

A comprehensive and cosmopolitan musical education, spanning Cape Town, Los Angeles and Texas, was formative. As Professor and Head of Piano at the University of Stellenbosch, Nina has found pedagogy to be an important complement to her activities as a performer. While engaged at Stellenbosch University, she founded the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival and the Stellenbosch International Piano Symposium. Both of these annual events focus on young musicians and have become Nina’s passion projects. They have succeeded in promoting South African musicianship and exposing young talent to established performers of international stature. Nina herself is also a sought-after pedagogue, having given master classes worldwide at numerous prestigious institutions across Africa, Europe, the USA and Asia. She is a YAMAHA International Artist.

Despite the challenges posed by her health, Nina’s dedication to music and her role as a mentor has only deepened. She has used her platform not only to inspire, but also to raise awareness about the realities of living with these conditions. Her courage and transparency have made her a source of strength for fellow musicians experiencing similar hardships.

Through her work, Nina cultivates a lasting legacy of resilience, offering both profound musical artistry and unwavering support to the global classical music community.