Say hello to the incredible Monika.
“Today I look back at my musical journey and my heart is filled with much joy and appreciation for the opportunities I have had to live out my passion of music-making.”
Although she specialises in classical piano accordion, Monika can play 12 different instruments. Music-making started age 3 at home with Monika’s father, Otto Kahl. She grew up playing together with her father and sister in their German Oompah band – predominantly at beer fests celebrated all over Southern Africa – as well as other occasions such as holiday cruise ships. Monika simultaneously trained as a classical accordionist under the world-renowned Sergio Zampolli, and came 2nd at the 1994 Accordion World Championships in Italy at age 13. At 16 years old she became the Overall Winner of the Southern African National Eisteddfod out of 93,000 participants.
Monika specialised as a chartered accountant after school, but lives out her music-making passion as the main accordionist of the Stellenbosch-based band, Zamar, since 2017,
“and of course, I am already introducing my own two children to the wonderful world of music-making!”
