Wouter Kellerman's journey to becoming a Grammy-winning musician is a testament to the power of perseverance and following one's passion.
Born into a family that valued discipline and hard work, Kellerman was encouraged by his parents in his love for music from a young age. He began playing the flute at 10 and never looked back. However, he says, financial constraints forced him to study electrical engineering instead of music.
“We were brought up to be disciplined. It was a bit of a tough childhood, which was very good because I learnt to persevere, which I think is the best skill in life. My mom always used to say it's not talent that will get you somewhere, it’s perseverance,” he told the Sunday Times.
“In my house there was only classical music. But when my mom went off to work, the lady who looked after me played only African music. So from a very young age I got used to that music.”
After completing his degree, Kellerman, now 62, worked as an engineer and eventually started his own software company. However, his passion for music never wavered. He continued to play the flute every day and even travelled overseas to learn from the best.
People thought I was having a midlife crisis. Everybody thought I was being crazy because my engineering company was doing so well. No-one thought you could make a career of being a flute player
— Wouter Kellerman
As a single father, it wasn't until his daughter and son grew up that Kellerman, at 44, finally had the opportunity to pursue music full-time.
“People thought I was having a midlife crisis. Everybody thought I was being crazy because my engineering company was doing so well. No-one thought you could make a career of being a flute player.”
He invested his savings of R150,000 into kick-starting his music career. “Within six months my money ran out."
Determined to become a household name as a flautist, Kellerman later embarked on his musical journey again. He spent years honing his craft, performing at local venues and even sleeping on couches in the US while touring to make his name known.
Today he is a three-time Grammy winner, with five nominations to his name. He has also won nine South African Music Awards (Samas) and has performed at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York.
His music is a unique blend of classical and African influences that has resonated with audiences around the world.
His commitment to philanthropy, particularly in supporting underprivileged children, has earned him recognition and accolades.
While he has cracked the code to winning a Grammy, he has paid it forward a number of times by using the same formula to get other South African artists noticed globally. He did that with Zakes and Nomcebo for their song Bayethe and helped the Ndlovu Youth Choir become recognised in the music industry locally and abroad.
As he returns to South Africa after his latest Grammy win, Kellerman is hailed as a hero and an inspiration to many.
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