Riaan Vorster holds a PerformanceDiploma and Advanced Certificate (singing)(piano)(organ) from the Royal Schools of Music, London (cum laude), a Performance Diploma (singing)(piano) from Trinity Guildhall Rockschool, London (cum laude), and PerformanceDiploma (piano)(singing) from the South African Academy for Contemporary, Jazz and Gospel Music (cum laude). He is currently preparing for the performer’s and teacher’s licentiate and fellowship diplomas in singing,piano, organ at the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity Guildhall College of Music and Trinity Rockschool, London.
Riaan studied the organ with Dr. Marinda Snyman-de Beer, Prof. Daleen Kruger and Susan Engelbrecht. He was an active participant in master-classes with, amongst others, Prof. Wim Viljoen (UP), Prof. Albert Troskie (NMMU), Prof. Deon Lamprecht (UFS), and attended master-classes conducted by Dr. Ewald Kooiman (The Netherlands), Prof. Simon Preston, Prof. James Parsons (UK), Rodney Gehrke and Prof. Wolfgang Rübsam (USA). He attended improvisation master-classes by Prof. Henk Temmigh, Prof. Nicol Viljoen and Martin Mans (The Netherlands).
On invitation, he gave recitals at the “Gariep Arts Festival” (Kimberley), Potchefstroom, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria and Johannesburg. During 1997 he acted as guest organist with the North West Youth Choir on their European tour, performing in various concert venues and cathedrals in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, The Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom.
As concert organist Riaan, regularly performs with Brent Oleman (trumpet), Christiaan Herbst (trumpet), Anton Delen (trumpet), Jeremy Sabian (trumpet), Isabella Eksteen (soprano), Marco Fourie (tenor), Linelle Wimbles (soprano) Bennie Botha (violin), Renchia Venter (violin), Albert Monteith (Cello), Anja Pollard (Saksofoon), various brass quintets, ensembles and choirs.
Riaan also acted as organist for Allen Digital Church Organs for demonstrations in the Cape Provinces and currently acts as organist for ContentDigital Church Organs for demonstrations and CD recordings.
From 2004 to 2006, he was employed as Principal organist of the Dutch Reformed Church, Valhalla South, Pretoria. As from 2006 he held the post as Musical Director and Principal Organist of the Reformed Church Wapadrant and Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Silverton, Pretoria. As from July 2010 he is Musical Director and Organist for the Presbyterian Church, Centurion West and organist for the Agni Dei Chapel.