Wieniawsky Concerto no 2. 2nd movement - Ryo Nitta (Violin) & Frank Sturgess (Piano) 3 August 2024.

2nd Movement "Romance" from Wieniawsky Concerto no 2 in d minor Op.22.

Ryo was born in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture in Western Japan on 4 December 2008. At the age of six he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa together with his mom. He has lived in Johannesburg ever since together with Naoko, his mom and his stepfather Alain Thijs.

He commenced his violin studies with Frank Sturgess in 2017 at the age of eight. These have since been expanded to include Viola, Music Theory and Chamber Music. In 2022, 2023 and 2024 he participated in the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. He will for the 4th time be returning to this festival in July 2025.

Ryo is currently a grade 10 student at Steyn City College in Johannesburg. His hobbies include Swimming, Chess, Karate, Hockey and Boxing.

Ryo also plays the drums.

Frank was born in 1959 in Ermelo, South Africa. The youngest of five boys, he grew up on a farm in the district and attended mostly local schools. His first formal introduction to music was in the form of piano lessons at the local convent from the age of 8. Upon reaching high school the clarinet was added. This instrument was after two years exchanged for the viola.

Upon completing high school, Frank went on to further his study of the piano under Peggy Haddon and viola under Walter Mony at the University of the Witwatersrand. During this time, he was a member of the SABC Junior Symphony Orchestra. He later also studied English Literature and Philosophy at the University of South Africa.

Towards the end of a rather unhappy and tumultuous period of military conscription (which included a court martial), he again took up the clarinet for a period as a member of the Light Horse Regiment band.

After commencing a music teaching career during the 80’s, he worked for several years as a farmer and later as a pilot/flying instructor and has since 2007 again become fully involved in the field of music education. During this time, he has been the manager of the MIAGI Youth Orchestra as well as the founder and coordinator of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls Music Programme where he also taught music and coached ensembles.

Since 2012 Frank has dedicated himself to his private teaching studio at his home in Jukskei Park, Johannesburg, where he teaches piano, violin, and viola. He also runs a weekly chamber music coaching programme.

Frank was previously married to Susan Jobson. The couple had three children Matthew, Nicola, and Hayley. His hobbies have included chess, squash, flying, sailing, and gardening.

In June 2024 Frank's extensive YouTube channel was taken down for allegedly "violating community standards". The channel contained nothing other than classical music videos featuring Frank and his students. Unfortunately this material was not backed up and is now mostly lost. Frank has managed to recover from elsewhere a few items such as this one. All future videos will be hosted either on Bit Chute or Rumble.