Soft notes floated through the afternoon air like a gentle breeze across lavender fields. The scent of sunflowers and the glow of golden light transformed Prof Paul Smit’s home into a small corner of Provence, carrying guests on a journey of music, memory and quiet celebration.

On Saturday, 13 September, Prof Smit, associate professor in the School for Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management at the North-West University (NWU), hosted the second house concert in memory of his late wife, Elmain.

This year’s gathering carried the theme Music in Provence, a place of special significance for the couple. Prof Smit and Elmain first visited the sun-drenched region of southern France in 2006, and in 2019, they celebrated her 60th birthday there. To evoke the region’s spirit, the Smit home was adorned with lavender and sunflowers, recalling the famous purple fields and golden countryside.

The atmosphere was as warm and fragrant as the décor suggested. The registrar designate, Prof Hennie Goede and the principal and vice-chancellor, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, joined colleagues, friends and students for an afternoon that celebrated music, memory and the vibrant talents of NWU’s Sergio Tavares (piano), Ty Maeco- Dipholo (piano), Charles Oliver (Cello) and Lesedi Nokoana (Clarinet)musicians.

Prof Smit’s journey to hosting these concerts began with a deeply personal loss. In December 2023, he lost his beloved wife, Elmain, a gifted pianist whose music was the heartbeat of their home.

“Elmain was the musician in our home,” he reflects. “The sound of the piano when she played or practised was always the highlight of my day. It was like her music was the pulse of our home. We were fortunate enough to own a grand piano, and it brought so much life to the house.”

After her passing, the silence was profound. Unable to play the piano himself, Prof Smit found it unthinkable that the grand piano would simply gather dust.

“I can’t play the piano at all,” he says. “It was unimaginable to me that the piano, which had once been filled with such music, would just sit there untouched.”

Knowing how many students at the School of Music and Conservatory struggle for access to quality instruments, he offered the grand piano and his home as a practice space. The response was immediate, and the house soon came alive again with music.

Prof Smit thanked everyone for attending, noting that their presence helped keep Elmain’s spirit of music and community alive.

“This is my way of contributing to community engagement,” he said. “Our students are so talented, and we do not always know or realise this.”

In his own remarks, Prof. Tyobeka echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of recognising and nurturing such talent. He highlighted that creating opportunities for students to develop and share their gifts is central to the NWU mission.