Image by Pierre Rommelaere: Emma van Heyn performing Soos Bloed in Die Theuns Jordaan Liedjieboek show at Toyota Woordfees 2022
Last updated 01/2024
EMMA VAN HEYN
“It happens only once in a while, a couple of times in your life, if you’re lucky, that you experience a performance of a young artist and realise that you are possibly watching the birth of an enormous career. This is one of those moments.” ." ~Ilza Roggeband (Die Burger)
Emma van Heyn is a South African actor, musician, producer and songwriter.
Having written and composed music since the age of six, she has built a vast body of work over the course of her career. Emma’s most recent venture includes the music for the Mnet family drama, “Summertide”. Other projects include the making and orchestration of FNB and BiB Africa’s audio library as Head of Post Production & Sound, working as head composer and sound designer on projects such as Sea Change (brought to you by the makers of My Octopus Teacher) and Qhawe! Mokgadi Caster Semenya’s audiobook, each densely sound designed for an immersive audio experience. She collaborated with Zolani Mahola, The One Who Sings, on projects including the soundtracks for the launch of Rise for the World and the conservation documentary, Ours, Not Mine.
Emma made her stage debut at Spier Amphitheatre at the age of seven in music production, Movie’s Greatest Music, touring nationally to KKNK. Her solo career, however, began to surface in 2011 when she was invited to perform one of her originals during the South African streak of Imogen Heap’s international “Ellipse” world tour. She has since released self-produced music, worked as a residency musician in Shanghai and wrote and performed her Fiësta-nominated one-woman cabaret show, Met Slenterslag na Shanghai. Her recent original content was tried and tested through performance in London and New York in 2019. Despite this venture being deemed a success, she decided to take more time to hone her sound. She has since collaborated on over 80 projects from film scoring, mixing, sound design and audio theatre. Her new music catalog is due for release in August, 2024.
Emma van Heyn has a great love for acting. After graduating with a Drama major at Stellenbosch University and Music Production through Berklee, she has since been cast and approached for post-production work for various film and television projects. She plays the title role of “Matilda in “Matilda & Matthys”, a Showmax feature film. She also starred alongside Pietie Beyers in the New York DWFNY award-winning short film, Twintig Tone in ‘n Hangkas. This film received seven nominations at the Silwerskerm Fees in 2022. You’ll see her in the upcoming feature, “Gebokste Liefde” due to premier at this year’s Silwerskermfees. Acting role aside, Emma was also nominated for Best Film Score for this film. In 2021, she won best music and sound design at the Paris Film Festival for Pl8o.
Emma wants to keep exploring creative ventures and climb into projects that inspire others.
