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Anja Pollard
Music & Mental Health Specialist
Anja Pollard is a performance and recording artist specializing in choral music and saxophone, as well as a Registered Music Therapist and Guided Imagery & Music (GIM) Specialist. Her career seamlessly integrates professional musicianship, therapeutic applications of music, and academic research, reflecting her deep commitment to the transformative power of music.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music (cum laude), majoring in Classical Saxophone Performance, and an Honours degree in Psychology. A choral singer since 1988, Anja has performed with renowned ensembles such as the North KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir, the Potchefstroom University Choir, and the Singkronies Chamber Choir. Currently, she sings with The Vox Chamber Choir, an ensemble dedicated to preserving and advancing original South African classical music and the development of choral repertoire in Afrikaans, one of South Africa’s 12 official languages. Her participation in Vox contributes to a lasting legacy, ensuring that both local compositions and linguistic heritage continue to thrive.
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Throughout her choral career, Anja has participated in numerous international performances across The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Estonia, Norway, Greece, Italy, and other countries. These experiences have shaped her artistic approach, deepening her understanding of global choral traditions while fostering cross-cultural musical connections.
As a recording and performing vocal artist, she has contributed to some of South Africa’s most exciting Afrikaans music productions, including Afrikaans is Groot and Lexus Classics. Her work as a saxophonist spans solo and collaborative performances, showcasing her versatility across classical, contemporary, and improvisational music.
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Beyond performance, Anja holds a Master’s degree in Music Therapy and has been registered with the South African Professional Health Council as a Music Therapist since 2007. She is also a Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI). In addition, she is an experienced student wellness coordinator and counsellor, specializing in music-assisted interventions for mental health, neurodiversity, and creative education. As a published academic author, she actively contributes to research in the field of music therapy. She aspires to further her academic career by pursuing a PhD focusing on neurodivergence in the creative arts.
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With a lifelong passion for both artistic excellence and the therapeutic potential of music, Anja continues to explore new ways to bridge performance, education, and wellness, advocating for the profound role of music in personal and collective well-being. She has also appeared on numerous television and radio shows, speaking as an expert on the intersection of music and mental health.