Bio

Monique van Driel was born in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa in 1994. She lives in Despatch and is well known in PE area for her singing ability. She is a singer, songwriter, composer and performer. She plays guitar and still learning the piano. She enjoys singing songs from different genres of music. Voice training was done at the Iloreez Meyer’s Singing Academy in Despatch from the age of 6 for 12 years. 2003 WINNER at the UD News and Susannah Fourie Singing Competition in the Age Category 6-8 years. 2004 WINNER at the ATKV Singing Competition in the Categories CONTEMPORARY AND GOSPEL in the Age Category 1-11 years. 2006 At Die Burger BayFM Opskop at Homeleigh Farm, her first original song, Kaalvoet oor die strand, written by AndrèM, was played on the radio, while she was singing. Her first CD was recorded in 2006, with the title, Kaalvoet oor die strand. She participated in the VOALIM talent show every month and was invited to participate in the Top20 at the end of the year. 2007 Kaalvoet oor die strand was 6 weeks on the BayFM Top5 Local sounds. She was nominated and participated at the BayFM Spiral Awards. 2008 WINNER of Spring Singing Competition, Age Category 10-14 years. WiNNER of Sonop Singing Competition, Age Category 13-16 years AND OVERALL WINNER of the Competition. WINNER of The Boardwalk Karaoke Competition, Age Category 11-15 years. SECOND PLACE in the Jip BayFM Singing Competition, Age Category 12-14 years. She participated every month at the Talenté and at the SUPRA at the end of the year she receive SECOND PRIZE for her ORIGINAL SONG, Kaalvoet oor die strand and THIRD PLACE place for BEST ARTIST. She received GOLD for SOLO SINGING at the Despatch Arts Festival. 2009 WINNER of the Strictly Come Singing Competition in the Age Category 13-15 years. SECOND in the Jip BayFM Singing Competition in the Age Category 15-18 years AND also received the AWARD FOR BEST STAGE PERSONALITY. WINNER at The Boardwalk Karaoke Competition in the Age Category 12-15 years. She participated in the Talenté every month and received THIRD PLACE place for her ORIGINAL SONG, Myle ver van my, at the Supra evening. 2010 She received GOLD for SOLO SINGING at the Despatch Arts Festival AND GOLD for BEGINNERS PIANO SOLO for age 16 and under. SECOND in the UD News Singing Competition Senior Category. SECOND in the So You Think You Can Singing Competition in PE. She participated for EP at the SA Championships Performing Arts in April and receives 5 medals for solo singing. Her song, Myle ver van my, was 15 weeks on the BayFM Top5 Local sounds. Myle ver van my, received BayFM SPIRAL AWARD FOR BEST RECORDING. She participated at the Wow-Star and received THIRD PLACE as BEST ARTIST. 2011 WINNER of Chilli Festival Singing Competition in PE. WINNER of Anibrand Festival Idols in Uitenhage. Her song, My hart se deur, was 15 weeks on the BayFM Top5 Local sounds. WINNER at Wow-ster xtra singing competition at Jbay divefest. THIRD PLACE at Die Burger BayFM Singing Competition, in the Age Category 15-18 years. SECOND PLACE at the WoW-ster xtra singing competition at Riviermondster festival at Cholchester. Sing at the Shoprite/Checkers Boerewors competition in Uitenhage and the semi-final in Port Elizabeth. 2012 Received The BayFM SPIRAL AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING ARTIST for 2011, with her song, My hart se deur. WINNER of Despatch High School Idols. Sing at fundraising for Isabella (pippi) Kruger in Port Elizabeth. Performs at Oppi Koppi in Uitenhage. She received GOLD for SOLO SINGING at the Despatch Arts Festival. She play one of the instruments in Despatch High School\\\\\\\'s steelband. Guest artist at Anibrand Festival in Uitenhage. Second in the Creative Noise Music and Recording Studio\\\'s New Talent Vocal Competition in the age 14-18. Second in Die Burger BayFM Singing Competition in the Junior Professional and won the prize for Best Afrikaans original song. Receive a Trophy at Despatch High School\\\'s prize giving event for Best contribution to Music outside the school. She was invited to preform at the Liedjieboer in Midrand Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the September holidays. Was part of Die Burger BayFM Afrikaanse Musiekfees at The Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth with artists like, Die Broers, MoniQue, Jay, Snotkop and a few other local artists. Sing at Shoprite/Checkers Boerewors Competition at Greenacres in PE and Uitenhage. She was nominated for a BayFm Spiral Award for her song Verlief op jou, in the Category\\\'s Best Songwriter and Best Artists. 2013 She is busy studing music at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univerisity. She don\\\'t have so much free time anymore, because of her studies, but she\\\'s still performing. She sing at the Chilli Festival in Port Elizabeth and did the judging in the karaoke Competition. She did a course in judging for singing competitions. Judge at the Anibrand Festival Idols. She met Ruan van der Kuil in 2008 and they started singing together as a group and call themselves, Ruanique, they enter a few competitions i.e. WINNER of the UD News competition duet part in 2009. WINNER in the senior duet at strictly come singing competition in 2010. They participated for EP at the SA Championships Performing Arts in April 2010 and receive 3 (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze) medals for singing. They also participated at The Talenté in 2009 every month and received SECOND PLACE for BEST ARTIST AND the AWARD for BEST CHOREOGRAPHY at the Supra evening. They participated at the Wow-Star every month and always end up in the Wow category in 2010. Wowstar 2011 FIRST PLACE in category AND SECOND PLACE OVERALL. Wowster xtra Riviermondster festival at Cholchester 2011, FIRST in category. Winners in the Creative Noise Music and Recording Studio\\\'s New Talent Vocal Group Competition in 2012. Ruanique was guest artists at the Anibrand Festival 2013 in Uitenhage. Ruanique sing at the Chilli Festival 2013. She also shared the stage with various celebrities i.e. Shawn Tait, David Fourie, Wicus van der Merwe, Zak van Niekerk, Thys die Bosveld Klong, Sarah Theron, Tommy Dell, Lance James, Desmond Wells, Rooies, Marnet, Nadia Louw, Annique, Viljoen Retief, Nadine and also a few local celebrities. Monique performs locally and nationally at big and small festivals as well as doing charity events i.e. Retirement villages, corporate functions, kid’s functions, weddings and modeling shows, Madiba car show and miss BayFm, Uitenhage Street Carnival and Cansa Relay in Port Elizabeth and JBay. Performs at Hartenbos Beach Stage December 2010 and 2011. She already recorded 4 of her own songs, Myle ver van my My hart se deur Verlief op jou Wil jou by my hê at Motiv Soundmine in Despatch and is busy working on her next song, Ek vra nie meer, written for her by Semandie Gerber of Despatch. Monique is managed and represented by her mother, Marie van Driel For bookings or more information, contact Marie at 0845195800 or email [email protected] All rights reserved. WARNING UNAUTHORISED REPRODUTION Province: Eastern Cape