Altus Hendriks
Composition for the Media and Classical Composition
Altus Hendriks is a South African composer and part-time lecturer based in Pretoria, South Africa.
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He holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Pretoria, and his works—ranging from solo and chamber pieces to orchestral and multimedia projects—have been performed nationally and internationally.
Altus offers online tuition in composition, orchestration, and portfolio preparation.
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Altus is a composition, orchestration, musicology, and music theory lecturer at the University of Pretoria, School of the Arts.
Altus Hendriks
Bio
Composer and Educator
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Altus Hendriks is a South African composer and experienced music educator based in Pretoria, South Africa. He studied at the University of Pretoria, where he took piano lessons with Joseph Stanford and composition with Alexander Johnson, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree, specialising in piano. He went on to complete both his master’s degree and his doctorate in composition, graduating cum laude. During his postgraduate studies, he received scholarships from the Pretorium Trust, SAMRO, and the University of Pretoria, and began teaching composition and theory at the undergraduate level; he currently lectures part-time and supervises postgraduate students.
Altus’s music has been performed nationally and internationally and has received several awards, including the Stefans Grové National Composition Competition, the prize for best composition at the 2014 Composer’s National Collegium, and a prize in the International ThinkSpace Composition Competition. He has collaborated with international composers such as Vincent Ho and, since 2016, has worked as an arranger and orchestrator with ensembles including the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra. His output ranges from solo and chamber works to orchestral, multimedia, and stage projects.
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Altus welcomes students at all levels who wish to develop a clear compositional voice, strengthen their craft, and prepare professional materials for performance or further study.
Selected Compositions by Altus Hendriks
​Solo Works
• Jazz Toccatina — Piano (2012)
• Man met Flits — Marimba (performed by Magda de Vries for Fragment in 2016 and 2022)
• Shape of Water — Piano (2024)
Vocal Works
• Dans van die Reën — Soprano and piano; performed by Melissa Gerber and Misha Meyer at the 2014 SAMRO concert (Pretoria)
• Drie Liefdesliedere — Soprano and piano; performed by Cora-Marie van Vuuren and Brian Wallick at the 2015 Stefans Grové National Composition Competition Winners’ Concert and the 2016 SAMRO concert (Pretoria)
• Vocalise — Soprano and piano (2019)
Chamber Works
• Ritual — String quartet with percussion; performed by the Epoch String Quartet with Magda de Vries (Pretoria & Stellenbosch, 2014); awarded a prize for best composition.
• rEvolution — String quartet with percussion; performed by the Juliet String Quartet with Gerben Grooten (2015)
• Constellations — Flute, clarinet in Bâ™, violin, cello, percussion, harp, and piano. (2018)
Works for Choir
• Resurrectio Lazari — SSAATTBB; performed by Gerrit Scheepers and the Armonia Chamber Singers. (2014)
• Wat is die Mens? — SATB; commissioned by Michael Barrett for the University of Pretoria Camerata. (2015)
• Starscapes: The Creation of the Cosmos — SATB, string orchestra, and percussion. (2019)
Orchestral Works
• Collage — Orchestra with two violin soloists; composed for the SHSU-BMF International Composition Competition. (2015)
• aWAKENing — Orchestra (2019)
• Life Cycle 2.0 — Orchestra; premiered by Schalk van der Merwe and the UPSO Symphony Orchestra at the 2024 EBIT concert, scheduled for recording in 2025.
Film Scores
• Etiqueta Negra — Short film score (2021)
• The Foundling — Short film score (2022)
Fixed Media Compositions
• Mysterious — Electronics; received third place at the 2017 ThinkSpace International Composition Competition
• Valley of Dry Bones — Piano, violin, and electronics (2023)
• Shape of Water — Piano and electronics (2025)
Selected Compositions by Altus Hendriks
Teaching Subjects
Education
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DMus: University of Pretoria, Doctor of Music (Composition) Thesis: A style discussion of Strange Quartet, Wits Trio Tribute, and Quin-tête-à-tête: three chamber works of Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph composed between 2000 and 2019. Supervisor: Prof. A. F. Johnson.
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MMus: University of Pretoria, Master of Music (Composition) – cum laude Dissertation: A style discussion of The Magic Marimba by Hans Roosenschoon. Supervisor: Prof. A. F. Johnson.
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BMus: University of Pretoria, Bachelor of Music (Performing Arts), Piano Lecturer: Prof. J. Stanford.
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UTLM: University of South Africa, UNISA Teacher’s Licentiate in Music (Piano) – cum laude, Piano Lecturer: Prof. J. Stanford.
Teaching Background
University of Pretoria: Part-time lecturer, School of the Arts.
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Teach undergraduate courses in Music Theory (Years 1–4), Composition and Orchestration (Years 2–4), and Musicology (Years 3–4).
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Develop syllabi, assignments, tests, and examinations in line with departmental learning outcomes.
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Coordinate grading and tutor sessions with a team of two tutors; provide mentorship and feedback.
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Supervise fourth-year students’ long essays, guiding research methodologies and academic writing.
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University of Pretoria: Teaching Assistant, School of the Arts.
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Assisted lecturers in Music Theory (Years 1–4) and Composition/Orchestration (Years 2–4).