Concerts

The Cape Chamber Music Collective, a passion project put together by a group of South African musicians, has recently launched their concerts in and around Cape Town.

For this concert at the Old Nectar gardens historic wine cellar in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, well-known South African musicians, Francois du Toit (piano), Farida Bacharova (violin), Bonolo Kgaile (violin), Uliana Alekseev (viola) and David Pinoit (cello) perform works by Shostakovich, Kodály and Dvorák.

Derived from Dmitry Shostakovich’s compositions for film, ballet, and theatre productions, the Five Pieces for Two Violins, in this concert arranged for violin and viola, present the unusually optimistic and entertaining side of the composer.

Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher, Zoltán Kodály’s Kodály method of music education is still taught to children internationally. The Duo for Violin and Cello from 1914 is a case study in the fusion of classical forms with folk melodies and rhythm, highlighting the musical writing of dialogue, and the infusion of language into music.

Dramatic, and eternally expressive, Dvorák's Piano Quintet is one of the finest examples for this combination of instruments. The vivid and individual part-writing, mixed with Dvorák's direct and poignant lyricism, makes this work one of the most beloved pieces of chamber music ever written.

Lauren Wesley-Smith (cello), Alexandra Beaven (piano), Gretna Heyneke (violin)

Cellist, Lauren Wesley-Smith and pianist Alexandra Beaven performed together throughout their undergraduate degrees at Stellenbosch University, and are joining forces once again with a diverse programme, from Baroque to Tango, featuring favourites of the piano-cello repertoire. Both Lauren and Alex are hoping to pursue further postgraduate studies in London and proceeds from ticket sales will go towards funding their education.

Lauren Wesley-Smith graduated from Stellenbosch University with BMus cum laude in 2019, studying with Babette Roosenschoon and Dr Peter Martens, attaining 36 distinctions throughout the course of her studies. During her studies she was the recipient of 7 bursary awards, including the Graham Beck First Year’s Scholarship, the runner-up for the 2019 Edna Elphick award, and performed as soloist with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra for their Youth Concerto Festival. As of 2022, she has become an Instrumental Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation, a music education initiative founded by Grammy award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti. Lauren has been offered a full scholarship to pursue her postgraduate professional diploma at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London, in September 2022 and is currently fundraising to cover the remaining costs.

Alexandra Beaven recently completed her MMus degree, specialising in piano accompaniment under Prof Nina Schumann, in addition to working as an Assistant Lecturer to the piano department. In 2019, Alexandra became the first ever piano accompanist to win the Mabel Quick Instrumental Bursary Competition, in addition to receiving the Betsie Cluver Scholarship award for the overall best achievement in piano as a principal instrument. Other bursary awards for academic and practical achievements include bursaries from both the National Arts Council, (2020 and 2021) and the Myra Chapman trust (2020). Alexandra was accepted for the Master of Arts program at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and will begin studies abroad in September 2022.

Lauren and Alex are also joined by violinist Gretna Heyneke, who is currently pursuing an MMus at Stellenbosch University with Dr Suzanne Martens.

Leon Bosch (double bass), Grant McLachlan (piano), David Earl (piano)

As a double bass soloist, Leon Bosch has performed concertos across the world and recorded 15 solo CDs, with varied programmes ranging from Hungarian, Russian and British repertoire to explorations of composers such as von Dittersdorf, Valls and Cervera-Bret. He is also a champion of new music and is working with today’s leading composers to establish a diverse body of repertoire for the instrument. In recent years he has returned to his roots with a project to commission South African composers. The first CD, The South African Double Bass, was released in February 2020 and for this CD launch concert, Leon appears alongside composers and pianists, Grant McLachlan and David Earl.

Jose Dias (piano), David Bester (violin), Annelize de Villiers (clarinet), David Pinoit (cello)

Join the Cape Chamber Music Collective (CCMC) for an afternoon of chamber music for piano, strings and clarinet at Old Nectar’s historic wine cellar in the Jonkershoek Valley. Opening the programme is one of the most beloved short piano pieces by Brahms, arranged by South African composer, Grant McLachlan, the Intermezzo Op. 118, no. 2. This is followed by one of French composer, Olivier Messiaen’s most important works, Quatour pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the end of time) which he wrote whilst in German captivity at Stalag VIII-A, a prisoner-of-war camp at Görlitz. Messiaen was among thousands of French soldiers taken prisoner in June 1940 and the work was first performed by his fellow prisoners, to 400 prisoners crammed into the camp’s makeshift theatre. Like virtually all of his works, it combines the striking technical achievement of Messiaen's rich and attractive musical style with a deeply felt theological inspiration - in this case from the apocalyptic events described in the Book of Revelation, leading to the end of Time itself.

One of the aims of the CCMC is to programme a diverse range of music, presenting stalwarts of the canon next to lesser-known works, particularly by South African composers. For this concert the CCMC perform the South African Premiere of McLachlan’s work titled Quartet for the beginning of time.

Young Artists Concert: Clarinet and Piano Recital Cameron Williams (clarinet), Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)

Join Cameron Williams and Albie van Schalkwyk for a recital of clarinet and piano music showcasing the broad and varied repertoire for the combination. From masterpieces of the romantic period and the twentieth century through to neoclassicism and jazz, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The programme includes works by Reger, Schumann, Berg, Poulenc and Kovács.

Cameron Williams completed his Bachelor of Music and BMus Honours degrees cum laude at Stellenbosch University in 2019 and 2021 respectively. He has won first prizes in, amongst others, the National Youth Music, UNISA Scholarship, and ATKV Muziq competitions and was the first runner-up in the 2019 Fine Music Radio Bursary and Mabel Quick Overseas Bursary competitions. Cameron is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Kunstuniversität Graz in Austria where he is a clarinettist with Live Music Now Styria, and has also played in the Ensemble Geräuschkulisse orchestra in Hannover, Germany. When he is not practising, Cameron is a director of the Cape Chamber Music Collective, a group which aims to put on high-quality chamber music concerts all around the Cape. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards funding his education.

Albie van Schalkwyk is one of the leading chamber musicians and accompanists in South Africa. He has performed as soloist with SA orchestras, performed solo recitals, given master classes for singers and accompanists, worked as a music producer for the SABC, and arranged music for various combinations. In 2009 the SA Academy of Arts and Sciences awarded him the Huberte Rupert Prize for his contribution to ensemble playing and teaching over more than 30 years. He completed his PhD in Music at the University of the Free State in 2012. Albie retired from his post as Associate Professor in Piano and Chamber Music at the SA College of Music, University of Cape Town, at the end of 2017 to his own private studio, the Musicumbrella Piano Studio.

Young pianist prodigy Leo Gevisser is back in South Africa to perform a series of concerts and recitals and Old Nectar is looking forward to hosting him. His solo piano recital programme includes works by Mozart, Sciarrino, Grieg, Scriabin and Prokofiev.

Leo Gevisser, 19, is currently pursuing the BMus degree programme at Juilliard with the legendary Jerome Lowenthal. Leo began his piano studies aged 5 at Bishops Preparatory School in Cape Town and then went on to study under Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães. At the age of 14 he moved from South Africa to the USA, continuing his musical studies under Kathryn Brown and Daniel Shapiro at the Young Artists Programme, Cleveland Institute of Music.

Leo gave his concerto debut at age 11. captured the public’s attention when he won the overall first prize at the National Atterbury Piano Competition at the age of 12, soon to be followed by the gold medal at the Hubert van Der Spuy National Music Competition. Shortly after moving to the USA Leo won the CIM Preparatory Concerto Competition as well as the Cleveland Suburban Symphony Young Soloists Concerto Competition. In 2019 Leo was awarded the Grand Prize at the Baltimore International Festival Competition (for solo piano) in addition to the Grand Prize at the 6th Coltman Chamber Music Competition (for the Arcus Trio).

Lulama Taifasi is a young up and coming tenor from the Eastern Cape whose talent was recognised by Maestro Kamal Khan, previous head of the UCT Opera School, SA College of Music. Lulama attended classes with Hanna and Albie van Schalkwyk, Grant McLachlan, and Italian classes at the Italian School Dante Aligieri, Cape Town. Apart from concerts at the Italian Consulate in Cape Town and with the Musicumbrella Studio, he performed in concerts in Montagu and Swellendam.

He made his opera debut during the SU Toyota Woordfees in the role of Gastone in Verdi’s La Traviata with Mamre Opera performing in Darling (2019) and the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch (2020). He performed with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Brandon Phillips at Artscape as part of a concert broadcast on television (2020) and took part in the 50th Youth Classical Music Concert in Artscape in 2021.

In April 2021 he obtained his Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance (Singing) from Trinity College in London with distinction. He joined the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy, in November 2021 where he is in the Young Artists Programme under Maestro Gianni Tangucci. In April 2022 Lulama sang the role of Benvolio in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet with Juan Diego Florez as Romeo at Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino/Opera di Firenze. In May 2022 he sang the role of Fante del Consiglio de' Dieci in Verdi’s I due Foscari with Placido Domingo in the leading role.

In July 2022, Lulama reached the finals of the Riccardo Zandonai Competition in Italy against 140 entrants and won the Opera São Paulo Prize, which will take him to Brazil in the future.

For this recital, Lulama will be accompanied by accomplished South African pianist, Tertia Visser. Tertia studied under national and international piano masters, John Antoniadis and London-based Martino Tirimo, after winning the prestigious Mabel Quick Overseas Scholarship. She regularly accompanies talented and award-winning musicians at various national and international competitions and concerts. In 2016, she received her Fellowship from the Trinity College of Music, London.

Tim Kliphuis, violin and Charl du Plessis, piano

Dutch violin virtuoso Tim Kliphuis teams up with South African pianist Charl du Plessis in a duo delighting audiences across South Africa with concerts planned in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein, Gqeberha, George, Sasolburg, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Oudtshoorn. They will perform works ranging from baroque and classical favourites to jazz standards. Their unique crossover style of improvisation, combined with classical training, will ensure a musical experience of the highest level with a colourful blend of styles and personality.

Tim Kliphuis is one of the best-known improvising violinists in the world. His award-winning brand of high-octane gypsy jazz and classical mashups has taken him to America, Europe, and Africa. Tim has shared the stage with Les Paul, Richard Galliano, Frankie Gavin and Daniel Hope. Charl du Plessis is a Steinway Artist and master of crossover music. His unique style of fusion piano has been heard in performances in Europe, Asia and America. He has shared the stage with Chick Corea, Joja Wendt and has been the collaborative pianist for Nataniël for more than two decades.

An exclusive experience to enjoy the magic of musical improvisation.

Theo Magongoma, baritone Danie Fourie, piano

Recent international award-winner, the South African dramatic baritone Theo Magongoma joins South African pianist, Danie Fourie, in a programme of music for baritone and piano devoted to 19th and 20th century Romanticism.

Theo Magongoma graduated with BMus Hons in Vocal Performance from the University of Cape Town’s College of Music under the tutelage of Dr Brad Liebl and is currently completing his MMus in Vocal Performance at Stellenbosch University. A former member of the Cape Town Opera Studio for Emerging Young Artists, Theo has been the recipient of numerous prizes as well as winning two prestigious scholarships, one from Queensland Opera (Australia) and a Bruce Foote Scholarship from Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas (USA). Theo recently won second prize in the Grande Voci International Opera Competition in Salzburg as one of 1,500 applicants and 100 competitors. Then Theo went on to Orvieto in Italy where he was awarded the first prize at the 27th Spazio Musica International Opera Competition. He also won the Audience Prize as well as a concert engagement in Romania and auditions at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, the Teatro Coccia di Novara and at the Teatro Communicale di Bologna.

Pianist, Danie Fourie holds a BMus degree from the University of Cape Town and a Performer’s Licentiate in Music from the University of South Africa. After postgraduate piano studies at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland, he worked in both the practical and academic fields of music and dance at the University of Pretoria, the Pretoria Technikon, PACT Ballet and the University of Cape Town, where he lectured Western Dance Musicology. He has worked with most of the leading ballet companies in South Africa and has participated in local and international summer/winter schools.

Gerhard Joubert, piano Nic Bruiners, violin Kaitlin Visser, violin Micaela Arries, viola Ashlin Grobbelaar, cello

The Cape Chamber Music Collective (CCMC), a passion project put together by a group of South African musicians, launched their concerts in and around Cape Town in 2022. For this concert at the Old Nectar gardens historic wine cellar in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, we welcome the CCMC's South African "Next Generation Artists": Gerhard Joubert (piano), Nic Bruiners (violin), Kaitlin Visser (violin), Micaela Arries (viola) and Ashlin Grobbelaar (cello). The String Quartet were the winners of the 2021 Schock Chamber Music Competition, and pianist Gerhard Joubert was the winner of the 2021 National Youth Music Competition. Together they perform much loved chamber music by Beethoven and Schumann.

Sunday Kelechi, cello José Dias, piano

Old Nectar concerts is delighted to present the young up and coming Nigerian cellist, Sunday Kelechi, accompanied by Portuguese-born pianist José Dias, in a recital featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, Shostakovich and Paganini.

Sunday Kelechi, is a final year Performance Diploma student at Stellenbosch University. He began playing the cello at the age of 13 at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) and in 2014 won the Music Quest Competition. In 2019 he was awarded the first prize in the Elna Elphick Cello Competition at Stellenbosch University. In the same year, Sunday appeared as soloist with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at both the Community Gala Concert at Artscape Opera Theatre and the Artscape Lunch Hour Concert. Sunday is also a member of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, ad hoc cellist for the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and principal cellist of the Stellenbosch University Symphony Orchestra (2021). In 2022 he was assistant principal of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in masterclasses with world renowned cellists Kyril Zlotnikov (2022), Gary Hoffman (2019), and Zuill Bailey (2017).

José Dias is a familiar name to local audiences. He is a regular presence in all major concert halls and Arts Festivals in South Africa and is in high demand as pianist and musical director, chamber musician, vocal accompanist and vocal coach. Alongside his busy performance schedule, José is also a part-time lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s Music Department, working within the voice and choral conducting divisions.

Christine Bam and Leah Paterson-Jones
Blaine Josephs and Alexandra Beaven
Sakhiwe Mkosana and Gerhard Joubert,
Marina Pienaar and Ian Bothma
Alida Stoman and Leah Paterson-Jones

Old Nectar concerts is delighted to present five delightful young singer-and-pianist-duos (under the age of 30) from the Young Artists of the Cape Town Songmakers Guild. The programme will display some of the Cape’s finest upcoming vocal talent with Christine Bam and Leah Paterson-Jones, Blaine Josephs and Alexandra Beaven, Sakhiwe Mkosana and Gerhard Joubert, Marina Pienaar and Ian Bothma, as well as Alida Stoman and Leah Paterson-Jones. The programme, a selection of art songs chosen by the duos themselves, will include works by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Poulenc, Britten, Van Wyk and Sibisi.

Join the Cape Chamber Music Collective for an afternoon of chamber music for String Sextet at Old Nectar’s historic wine cellar in the Jonkershoek Valley. The concert includes Brahms' String Sextet No. 2 and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence performed by well-known South African musicians, and young upcoming artists Jordan Brooks (violin), Pieter Joubert (violin), Petrus Coetzee (viola), Azra Isaacs (viola), Eddie McLean (cello) and Dane Coetzee (cello).

Brahms' String Sextet is almost symphonic in rich sonorities and harmonies, subtle evolutions, and the persistent return of clever themes and motifs to delight audiences. Tchaikovsky adored Italy after spending the long, harsh Russian winter in Rome, Florence, and Venice. The Souvenir de Florence imbues the sense of clear blue skies, the seductive warmth of the sun and the music in the streets.

Mexican-American concert pianist Gustavo Romero returns to South Africa to continue his Sonata Series with a rare opportunity to experience the complete Schubert Piano Sonatas over 4 concerts. This series celebrates the 225th anniversary of Schubert's birth.

Romero’s performances have been described by the New York Times: "Mr. Romero has great agility, adequate power and an unusually large repertory of colours and dynamic levels. More important, these virtues evoked a sense of the music at hand rather than mere piano techniques."

Christon Southgate, soprano and Arno Jones, piano.

Old Nectar concerts is delighted to present the young up and coming soprano, Christon Southgate accompanied by pianist Arno Jones, as part of our Young Artists Series in support of South African talent.

Christon Southgate is a 21-year-old soprano from Brackenfell, Cape Town. Music has been an prominent part of her upbringing starting music lessons with Christine Bam, Christopher Vale and Lunathi Ncamani at Monument Park High School (2015-2018). During her schooling, Christon won many eisteddfod awards, and sang live on air for KFM radio station in 2017. After matric, Christon enrolled for the Certificate Programme in Music at Stellenbosch University, completing the Advanced Certificate in Music in 2019. She was also nominated for the prestigious ATKV Albert Engel Bursary. In 2020 she furthered her studies, enrolling for the Diploma in Performance, specialising in Vocal Performance at Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Lauren Dasappa. During her studies, Christon performed in various productions of the Voice Division at Stellenbosch University such as Finally Mozart, the Opera Collage, Masquerade to name but a few.

She also completed a 2-year course in choral conducting under the tutelage of Dr Martin Berger and was a member of the academic choir, Schola Cantorum. In addition to being invited to be a member of the Golden Key Society for Academic Excellence for three consecutive years, Southgate was runner up for the Vocal Prize in the 2022 Mabel Quick Bursary Competition at Stellenbosch University. She recently graduated with a Diploma in Performance, specialising in Vocal Performance.

This concert features arias by Pergolesi, Handel, Mozart, Schubert and Wolf as well as songs from musical theatre by Lehar, Webber, Sondheim, to name but a few. Old Nectar Concerts presents this fundraising concert on Sunday 12 February 2022 at 4pm in support of Christon so that she is able to enrol for the Advanced Diploma in Performance at SU in 2023. Tickets are R200 per person are available via Quicket and include selected wines from Banhoek’s renowned Oldenburg Wine Estate and finger food at interval. Student / learner tickets are offered at R50 per concert at the door. Guests are invited to come early or stay after the concert to enjoy the start of Spring at the Old Nectar gardens.

Lynelle Kenned and Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi (sopranos), Ingo Müller (baroque oboe), Cheryl de Havilland (baroque cello) and Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord, Director)

Members of the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra (CTBO) are joined by sopranos Lynelle Kenned and Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi in their award-winning concert of chamber works for instruments and voices by G.F. Handel (1685–1759).

Part of the programme consists of vocal chamber duets, a genre that the young Handel was exposed to as a student in Rome. Many years later several of these duets served as inspiration for choruses in his well-known oratorio Messiah. Baroque oboist Ingo Müller will play a sonata for oboe and also join the singers in an Italian cantata. The CTBO’s Artistic Director, Erik Dippenaar, will perform Handel’s well-loved Harmonious Blacksmith variations.

With: Lynelle Kenned and Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi (sopranos), Ingo Müller (baroque oboe), Cheryl de Havilland (baroque cello) and Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord, Director).

After a wonderful performance in 2022, Old Nectar welcomes the Kirby Quartet: Nicholas Bruiners (violin), Kaitlin Visser-Downie (violin), Micaela Arries (viola) and Ashlin Grobbelaar (cello). Winners of the 15th Annual Schock Prize for Chamber Music in 2022 at the University of Cape Town, the Kirby Quartet is a group of young South African talents making waves in the classical world. Together they perform much loved chamber music by Shostakovich and Borodin.

Old Nectar Concerts welcomes South African-born pianist and composer David Earl for a solo piano recital at Old Nectar gardens historic wine cellar in Jonkershoek.

David Earl broadcast a piano recital for the SABC at age 16, and at 17 made his professional concerto debut with the then Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. Moving to London two years later, he studied piano and composition at Trinity College of Music, and subsequently gave a number of solo piano recitals at Wigmore Hall and London’s South Bank, as well as broadcasting live on BBC Radio 3.

After seven years based in Oxford, he settled in Cambridge where for over two decades he has taught piano performing to under-graduates at Cambridge University, as well as supervising composition students. As composer, David has written music for solo piano, chamber, orchestral music and concertos, ballet music and operas. In addition to his performance and composition work, in 2001 David was ordained into The Western Buddhist Order and given the name Akāshadeva (“deity of etheric space”).

His solo piano recital programme includes Beethoven's much loved Moonlight Sonata, Schumann’s eight Fantasy Pieces, Earl's transcription of Tchaikovsky’s Theme and Variations from Orchestral Suite No. 3 and his own composition titled Scenes from a South African Childhood.

Old Nectar Concerts is committed to supporting young South African talent. The Spring concert will feature young upcoming pianist Gerhard Joubert, a 4th year BMus Performance student of Prof François du Toit at the University of Cape Town.

Gerhard is a laureate of many national music competitions, including first prizes in the Pieter Kooij Competition (2018), and the Johann Vos Senior Piano Category (2019) and Open Category (2022). In 2021 he received the first prize in Pretoria at the Atterbury National Piano Competition, the Laura Searle Prize for Piano Concerto Playing as well as the first prize and other special awards at the National Youth Music Competition after performing Liszt’s first piano concerto with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared as a soloist with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra on several occasions, collaborated with Cape Town City Ballet and frequently collaborates with singers from Opera UCT.

The programme for Gerhard’s solo piano recital at Old Nectar gardens historic wine cellar in Jonkershoek features works by Scarlatti, Mozart, Debussy, Ravel, Liszt and Brahms.