About Organist Isabelle van Rensburg

Isabelle van Rensburg is a South African organist and educator. Her journey with the organ began during her high school years, ultimately leading her to earn a Doctor of Music in Performing Arts from the University of Pretoria (UP) in 2021, under the mentorship of Professors Wim Viljoen and Theo van Wyk. In her research she focused on the compositions of the South African-born Canadian composer, Jacobus (Kobie) Kloppers. Her academic career also includes a Bachelor of Music in Performance and a Master of Music in Performing Arts, both from UP. Additionally, she earned Performance and Teacher’s Licentiates in Music, both awarded by the University of South Africa (UNISA). Isabelle’s training has been further enriched through her active participation in masterclasses conducted by esteemed international organists such as Arvid Gast, Ben van Oosten, Olivier Latry, Paul Jacobs, and Wolfgang Zerer.

Throughout her academic pursuits, Isabelle has been the recipient of several prestigious scholarships in South Africa, including a Pretorium Trust Bursary (UP), the Stephanus Zondagh Organ Scholarship from UNISA, and the Doctoral Bursary from the Southern African Church and Concert Organists Society (SAKOV). Her musical prowess has been recognized through numerous accolades, including first prizes in national competitions such as the ATKV Muziq Competition and the UNISA Music Scholarship Competition (2005). 

Isabelle’s musical journey has taken her across borders, where she participated in student concerts at distinguished venues which formed part of prestigious events such as the Masterclass César Franck (2018), the Haarlem International Organ Festival (2018), the Bach Oregon Festival (2019), and the International Summer Academy in Italy (2025). Her international career as a concert organist has taken her to Namibia, Italy, and the US cities of Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine. She participated in the Boston Bach International Competition (2022) and earned a special prize at the 13th Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition (2023), reaching the semi-finals in both 2023 and 2025.

In November 2025, Isabelle recorded and produced her first album, “Complete Works Wim Viljoen”, a project celebrating the creative legacy of one of South Africa’s important organists.

Currently, Isabelle serves as the organist at the Dutch Reformed Church Universiteitsoord in Pretoria and is one of the University Organists at UNISA. Alongside her performance commitments, she runs her own academy, specializing in organ and music theory.

• Overall winner of the ATKV Muziq Competition.
• Overall winner of the Unisa Grade 8 Bursary Competition.
• Awarded the Stephanus Zondagh Overseas Bursary.
• Winner of the DMus bursary at the Southern African Church Organists’ Society (SAKOV).
• Winner of a travel bursary at the Southern African Church Organists’ Society (SAKOV).
• Winner of the Vera Tariverdieva “Faith, Hope and Love” special prize at the 13th Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition.