The Stellenbosch University’s Department of Music announced the start of the second season of the Endler Concert Series, which will run from this Friday August 2, to Saturday 7 December.
The season starts off this weekend with an exciting offering featuring performances by the SAMA-nominated Juliet String Quartet on Saturday August 2, and a performance by the world-renowned Stellenbosch University Choir on Saturday August 3.
The SU Department of Music is also celebrating a milestone, as the SU Chamber Choir marks its tenth anniversary with a special performance at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow on Sunday August 4, conducted by Lunathi Ncamani and Martin Berger.
The Juliet String Quartet will open the series on Friday August 2, with their concert entitled, Something Old Something New, and the program will include works by Haydn, Dvořak and the world premiere of a work written specifically for this concert by the South African composer, Franco Prinsloo, was written.
The work consists of five short, lyrical transcriptions of melodies in contrasting styles. The quartet members currently include Dr Annien Shaw on violin and Dr Babette Roosenschoon on cello from the Stellenbosch University Music Department, and Matthew Stead on violin who is the co-principal second violin of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Remi Ludick joins them for the last time on viola, before he continues his studies in Ireland.
The Juliet String Quartet has had a long history of collaboration with local composers. Founded in 2014, the quartet has always strived to include at least one South African composition per program, to not only support local composers, but also inspire audience members to do the same.
Their 2023 album, Maike, consisted of a selection of works by such composers, with whom the quartet formed good working relationships. The album earned them a SAMA nomination.
Annien Shaw, violinist in the quartet explains: “It was at the SAMA awards where I met Franco Prinsloo, the winner of the Best Classical Album category, 2023. We had a mutual admiration for each other’s work and decided on the night to work together soon. This is how Prinlsoo’s work was ultimately composed for this performance. We are very excited to premiere Stringsongs on the Endler stage.”
On Saturday August 3, the SU Choir conducted by André van der Merwe will take to the stage. Audiences can expect a programme full of new choral works and arrangements, with new a capella versions of, among others, Johnny Clegg’s The Crossing and André Swiegers’ Blou, along with arrangements of Alberto Grau’s Kasar mie la gaji (The earth is tired) and Balleilakka – an adaptation of the popular song from the Indian blockbuster The Boss.
On Sunday August 4, the Stellenbosch University Chamber Choir (SUCC) conducted by Lunathi Ncamani and Martin Berger will entertain audiences. The SUCC will be performing a variety of works by composers old and new, as well as local and from abroad, including Os Justi (Anton Bruckner), Loof die Here (Pieter van der Westhuizen), Gebed aan die Nuwe Maan (Hendrik Hofmeyr), ’n Paternoster vir Suid-Afrika (Antoni Schonken), as well as Song and Arirang (Kim Shin). A selection of traditional African choral arrangements will also be performed, under the direction of Lunathi Ncamani.
Then on Tuesday August 6, audiences will get to delight in the sounds of Symphonic Bridges: An International Youth Orchestra Performance with conductor Alexander Walker, leading the talents from the Stellenbosch Youth Orchestra and West Coast Youth Orchestra, as well as visiting young musicians from England, the USA and Australia.
The programme highlights the premiere of The Future is in Africa by SA composer, Malcolm Dedman, commissioned for this International Youth Bridges Orchestra tour.
Adding to the excitement, the series is also proud to highlight a collaboration between the SU Department of Music and the Centre for Social Justice, in a concert in support of #Action4Inclusion featuring the Palissander Chamber Choir.
Led by Professor Thuli Madonsela, the #Action4Inclusioncrowdfunding initiative is a key component of the University’s Bridge the Gap annual fund, and a top priority for the university. The #Action4Inclusion Palissander Concert marks the kickoff of an ambitious initiative aimed at raising funds for students in need.
Concerts taking place in August are already available at Webtickets. For information on ticket sales visit the SU Conservatory’s social media platforms.
