South African clarinettist Maria Du Toit is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s foremost clarinettists and finest export musicians. After having been the principal clarinettist of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra for 13 years, she now lives in the Netherlands where she is pursuing a solo and chamber music career across Europe. Internationally acclaimed, Head of Piano at Stellenbosch University, Nina Schumann, needs no introduction to local audiences. Solo career and academic life aside, Schumann tirelessly contributes to the musical and cultural life of Stellenbosch with her visionary artistic leadership of both the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival and the Piano Symposia hosted by the Music Department.

In this concert Maria and Nina will be performing an exciting programme, which will include the Sonata for clarinet and piano from the South African composer Peter Klatzow – a unique feature of the programme. The programme also includes works by Kovacs – Hungarian Folk Song and Variations; After you, mr. Gershwin!; Sholem-alekhem, rov Feidman!; Lutoslawski’s Dance Preludes; Johnson’s Colour Keys for solo clarinet; and Horovitz’s Sonatina for clarinet and piano.

Be sure not to miss this powerhouse combination of musicianship and worldclass homegrown talent.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

The publication Music and Musicians describes them as “A brilliant British duo…….no praise could be high enough…….. brilliantly fleet and entertaining…….performed with infectious verve and spirit” whilst The Times states “……..a volume and scale of expression comparable to that of an orchestra”.

For this concert they offer a varied recital of not only standard works but also their own distinctive transcriptions: Saint-Saens’ Scherzo, Op. 87 and Polonaise, Op. 77; Shostakovich’s Concertino, Op. 94; and their own transcriptions of Ravel’s Introduction & Allegro and the famous Bolero.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

Their programme will open with the Trio Elegiaque no. 1 in g minor by Rachmaninoff – a lugubrious single movement work that pre-empts the more famous piano trio Op. 9 in which Rachmaninoff pays tribute to his mentor Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky’s mammoth Piano Trio is one of the truly great Romantic masterpieces for this genre, but perhaps because of the virtuosity required to perform it, is less seldom heard in concert than concert goers might like. Between these two trios, Trio Elegiaque will aptly include the Piano Trio no. 2 by Shostakovich. This trio is full of emotion attributable to the Second World War, the opening harmonics in the cello part perhaps symbolizing the desolation and cold of Siberia to the aggression of the second movement depicting the terrors of the fighting itself.

The concert takes place on Friday 23 September at 20h00 in the Endler hall.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

The evening will open with Sea Songs, by Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Dyptych, also by van der Roost and Themes from the Overture to the Magic Flute, arranged by Mike Hannickel. The text for Lank, lank gelede, originally in Flemish, has been translated into Afrikaans by Karin Maritz, adding a local flavor to this Belgian/South African collaboration.

USSWE will share the Endler stage with the Paarl Boys Primary School Choir and the renowned ERUB Children’s Choir, trained and conducted by ex-Matie, Martjie Burger, and former lecturer in the music department, Keith Jenneker, respectively. Parts for narrator, and actors will see the involvement of the Stellenbosch University Drama Department. The narrator will be played by Prof. Petrus du Preez, head of the Drama Department at the University.

Internationally acclaimed Belgian conductor, Rik Ghesquière will conduct this unique performance. This is the third year in which he will be working with the University of Stellenbosch Symphonic Wind Ensemble (USSWE) as guest conductor. Rik is also principal trumpeter in the Brussels Philharmonic and divides his time between playing and conducting both choirs and orchestras in Europe.

Learners from local primary schools are invited to attend this exciting evening, which will see traditional Fairy Tales “come to life” on the Endler stage.

Refreshments will be on sale during the interval.

Tickets for R50 (regular) and R30 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door. For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

The singing students of Stellenbosch University are off to the local Aquilla D’oro coffee shop to catch up on some lost time with family and friends. Come join us at the Fismer Concert Hall to experience the intricate operatic conversations and splashy public confrontations one can only find in an Aquilla D’oro coffee shop. Opera Kaleidoscope allows you to catch the rising stars of tomorrow up close in intimate presentations with piano accompaniment. Directed by Johannes Slabbert and Musical Director Arno Jones in collaboration with the SU Singing Division staff.

The concerts takes place on Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 September at 20h00 in the Fismer hall, Stellenbosch Konservatorium.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

Originally from Cape Town, Myles has completed his Bachelor of Music and Master of music degree, majoring in flute performance at Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Prof. Corvin Matei. He is currently living in Milan, Italy and finishing his studies at the Civica scuola de musica under the guidance of Maestro Raffaele Trevisani.

Sulayman is currently enrolled for a Master of Music (Solo Performance) degree at Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães.

Myles and Sulayman will be performing a varied programme, consisting of Sonatas by Cesar Franck and Liebermann. The Violin Sonata by Cesar Franck is arguably the most popular sonata ever written by a French composer. Its charm and depth of emotional content has inspired many instrumentalists to transcribe the violin part for their instrument. This sonata has thus become popular in its violin, cello and flute guise. The second half of the programme consists of a selection of concert pieces such as the Grand Polonaise by Boehm, Air Valaques by Doppler, Dutilleux’s Sonatine, Mozart’s Andante, a Madrigal by Gaubert and the Stiffielio variations by Rabboni.

Doppler has in the absence of great Romanic composers’ works for the flute filled this gap with a multitude of fantastically virtuoso works for the instrument. Liebermann, having been commissioned to write at least three works for Sir James Galway is perfect example of a great modern composer who writes virtuoso but idiomatic music for flute.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door one hour before the show.

The first half of the concert will include Rachmaninov’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli, one of the 20 pieces for solo piano from Messiaen’s suite Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, and Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 4. In the second half, Prins will perform Haydn’s Sonata in C minor and Brahms’ Variations on a theme of Paganini. This is a programme one would expect from a mature seasoned virtuoso, and expectation is high that the young Prins will dazzle with musicality beyond his years.

Megan-Geoffrey is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he recently completed the Master of Music programme as a piano student of Antonio Pompa-Baldi. Prins received his BMus degree from Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães.

The concert will take place at 16h30 on Sunday 14 August in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door. For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

The Endler Concert Series is proud to present the KOMPOS Chamber Music Concert on 4 June at 20h00 in the Endler Hall.

KOMPOS is an organization of that strives to realize performances of student works. Each semester sees a concert of premiers of works by the composition students of Stellenbosch University.

The theme for this concert is: “The Self and Reflection: Politics is DEAD!” The programme includes innovative compositions featuring varied ensembles including a Flute Duo, String Quartet, Wind Quintet and an eclectic ensemble that consists of Violin, Clarinet, 2 Pianos and Percussionist.

Tickets for R50 (regular) and R30 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door one hour before the show. 

Sunday 12 June, 16h30: International Artists Violin & Piano Recital

Rachel Lee Priday will replace the indisposed Kristóf Baráti for his upcoming tour to South Africa.

Acclaimed for her beauty of tone, riveting stage presence, and “irresistible panache” (Chicago Tribune), violinist, Rachel Lee Priday will be performing in the Endler Concert Series on Sunday 12 June at 16h30. She will be partnered by the American born pianist Bryan Wallick, lauded by critics as “virtuoso, brilliant and intense”.

The first half of the concert will include Beethoven’s Violin Sonata no. 9 in A Major, commonly known as the “Kreutzer” sonata and Prokofiev Violin Sonata no. 1 in F minor. These two works are of the most well loved of their genre, the joyous and exuberant ending to the Beethoven work a perfect antidote to the dark and sombre sonata by Prokofiev. The second half commences with Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in c minor followed by one of Sarasate’s most popular compositions and a favourite among violin virtuosos, the Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs). Sarasate was himself a virtuoso violinist and although he lived into the 20th century, his music is not at all avant-garde, but Romantic, operatic and flashy much like the music of Paganini.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

Sunday 19 June, 16h30: Ekaterina Levental – mezzo soprano & harp

The Endler Concert Series welcomes the remarkable Ekaterina Levental on Sunday 19 June, at 16h30 in the Fismer Hall, Stellenbosch. Not only is Ekaterina an excellent harpist, but also a mezzo-soprano with a beautiful, rich, dark voice. In this recital Ekaterina performs both solo works for harp as well as works for harp and voice.

The eclectic programme includes works from the late 19th and 20th century by great French composers such as Ravel and Satie, Russian composers such as Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov and Glinka as well as works by Zemlinsky, Britten, Pierné and Weill. Ravel is one of the few composers known for his significant use of the harp in chamber music and his sublime French Impressionistic style is indeed a medium through which the harp speaks most beautifully. The Russian composers and Benjamin Britten are all admired as master composers for the human voice, the combination with harp here suggesting the exploitation of the most exquisite timbres Art song can deliver.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.