From multi-award winning musician, Yamaha / Lee Ritenour world-champion guitarist to world-champion kickboxer, voice-over artist and public figure.

THE EARLY YEARS

Corneille was destined to become a master musician. He started with music at the age of 5 when he was introduced to the piano. After a couple of lessons he realized the piano was not for him; he could not carry it with him… 😉

What the young Corneille was looking for was an instrument that he could take with him, wherever he went – his own instrument that he could get to know personally and master.
Thus, he was introduced to a magical 6-stringed instrument at the age of 6 and started with formal classical guitar training with the acclaimed Belgian guitarist Yvon Syx.

FURTHER TRAINING

After numerous years of tutoring Corneille, Yvon Syx moved back to Belgium. Charl Lamprecht took over the reins. Corneille and Charl walked a long road through all the classical guitar techniques and even played together in numerous concerts with the Jose Montoya Spanish Dance Company. It is during this time that the Flamenco style of guitar playing intrigued Corneille and the very unique fusion between Classical, Instrumental-pop and Flamenco guitar sound was born that CH2 is so well known for.

THE FULLY QUALIFIED MUSO

Corneille went on to complete grades through Trinity College of Music, London, as well as achieving Highest Honours in his International Performance Certificate with a score of 94%. Corneille was awarded a silver medal in the Commonwealth aged 17 from Trinity College. As a soloist he also won numerous Overall Eisteddfod-winner trophies.

Corneille has been performing as part of the international award-winning band CH2 since they year 2000 and the duo has paved their way into the international music industry with their unique sound and awe-inspiring virtuoso technique. Their fan base is growing with every performance. Once you’ve experienced CH2, you’re hooked! As part of CH2, he was the winner of the World Classical / Flamenco category in the 2011 Lee Ritenour Six String Theory International Guitar Competition.

THE WHO WHAT OF CH2

Now in their 18th year as professional musicians, CH2 goes from strength to strength with Insomnia, their 11th album to date. The album went to number 7 on radio stations in Australia and enjoys world-wide radio play. The album took 9 months to record and complete, and contains a number of own compositions as well as classics known all over the world.

This magical duos best claim to fame can only be winning the Worldwide Classical / Flamenco category in the Lee Ritenour Six String Theory International Guitar Competition, held in the USA. This is the single biggest most prestigious guitar competition in the world, covering all genres and styles of music on the six stringed instrument, all competing in one arena.

With their flawless, effortless technique and pulsating rhythms they showcase what can be done on only two guitars, classical guitars, and create a very exciting instrumental pop sound whilst mimicking drum sounds and bass guitar all at the same time. CH2 has truly developed their own style unique to the band and continues to blow people away with their virtuosity. The members of CH2 keep challenging themselves with new techniques every day and see themselves as 2 pioneers of the classical guitar, pushing the instrument into genres it is not known for.

CH2 are proud members of the Grammy Foundation and will enter Insomnia in the next round of the Grammys. The Grammys is of course the top music accolade on the planet, sought after by every musician in the world. No honour is greater than winning a Grammy in the music industry.

CH2 has won numerous awards over the years, with 2 x SAMA (South African Music Award) awards for best instrumental / classical album. The SAMA award is arguably the top music award in the whole of Africa.

They’ve also won 2 x Ghoema, Geraas, Oscar and VryFees awards. They have performed on various international tours over the years and enjoy a strong international following across all the continents. CH2 has recently been accepted into one of the biggest movie libraries in the world that supplies Hollywood and Bollywood music for A-list movies.

The visual impact of what they do on two nylon stringed guitars mesmerizes audiences all over the world and is a must see live act. They showcase the virtuoso and technical possibilities on the classical guitar, using classical, flamenco, Spanish and other techniques to create a completely unique style.