Pianist Willem van Schalkwyk's idea of a perfect career is working at an opera company and performing chamber music. Now on a 10-month contract as an apprentice coach and accompanist for Utah Opera's Ensemble Artists program, van Schalkwyk is well on his way to realizing his dream.

His responsibilities include performing in schools across the state as accompanist and cast member for "Who Wants to Be an Opera Star?," the educational program introducing elementary students to opera in using the format of a reality TV show. He also rehearses with singers for mainstage productions and operated the Supertitles captioning system during the company's recent production of "Carmen."

"He's careful to time the captions just right, so the audience doesn't laugh at a funny line before the singer has sung it," said Paula Fowler, Utah Opera education director.

On Feb. 27, van Schalkwyk, 28, will perform Vladimir Horowitz's "Carmen Fantasie" during a recital in the Vieve Gore Concert Hall at Westminster College. Other works on the program are Haydn's Sonata No. 35 in A-flat Major, Liszt's Sonata in B Minor and Brahms' Opus 118.

The Liszt sonata is the last work van Schalkwyk played before leaving the University of North Texas, where he earned master's and doctor's degrees. He describes the piece as the "epitome of the romantic repertoire" and one that's a good fit for his personality.

He learned the Brahms work as a birthday present for a friend who is expected to attend Saturday's concert; he fell in love with the Haydn sonata years ago and has enjoyed playing it since.

Van Schalkwyk came to Utah last August after auditioning for the apprentice post in New York City. But he had already lived in Utah for four years, earning his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University, where he studied with Irene Peery-Fox.

One of the things he likes best about the state is the cold winter weather, something he didn't experience often in his hometown of Okahandja, Namibia, a small city in the heart of the arid southwest African nation. Some parts of the southern Utah desert remind him of home.

Van Schalkwyk started piano lessons at 7, also learning the violin and viola. He attended Windhoek Arts College 70 miles north of his home, then traveled Michigan at 18 to attend the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp.

As a pianist, he often was asked to accompany singers and found that he enjoyed it. He played viola in Namibia's National Symphony Orchestra for "Don Giovanni" while in high school and became enthralled creating opera.

He has a passion for languages -- he speaks English, French, German and Italian, along with his native Afrikaans.

Van Schalkwyk has received fan mail from students who have attended the school programs. Fowler mentioned one student drawing showing van Schalkwyk bent over the keyboard, notes floating out of the piano and encircling the singers.

Van Schalkwyk's contract ends in May, but officials hope he could stay on with the company. If things don't work out, Fowler is confident he'll be able to find an apprenticeship with another opera company.

Dreams are a significant element in many operas -- a detail undoubtedly not wasted on van Schalkwyk. But like other classical artistis, his dream career isn't a wish he expects to be freely granted. He's paying his dues for future success.

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