Concerts
Friday, 17 March
Convention Concert 1│17 March, 13:00
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
RESTRING – a delectably diverse programme of Classical, Jazz, and Indigenous African string music, featuring the award-winning Albert Ssempeke, David Bester, Chantal Willie-Petersen, and more…
This opening concert of the 2023 SA Strings Convention will give a taste of the diversity of Southern African Strings playing instruments and musics. From Gliere, to Kulomzuzu, from Jazz to Baganda music; featuring the cello, violin, uhadi, umrhubhe, endigon, upright bass, electric bass, and the voice.
Dizu Plaatjies, David Pinoit, Shaun Johannes.
Convention Concert 2│17 March, 19:30
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
REVERBERATE – A celebration of string ensemble music from around the world. This concert will showcase the Nelson Mandela University String Ensemble, the Odeion Camerata from Bloemfontein, an Uhadi ensemble, the Gqeberha Trio, and more…
The eclectic programme includes music by Vivaldi, Roosenschoon, Danialou, and Villa-Lobos, and features guitarist Rudi Bower and winner of the 2021 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music award, Cara Stacey.
Saturday, 18 March
Convention Concert 3│18 March, 13:00
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
RESOUND – Dashing duos from the Baroque to the present with music for violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The stellar line-up includes Zanta Hofmeyr, Leon Bosch, Peter Martens and Jeanne-Louise Moolman. Audiences can look forward to music by virtuoso string music by Rossini, Handel-Halvorsen, Harley, and the recently rediscovered work of French Creole composer and violinist, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Convention Concert 4│18 March, 19:30
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
REGINAE – A tribute to the late Madosini and a celebration of women in music. This concert features the acclaimed singer-songwriter Monique Hellenberg, Uhadi player and composer Thandeka Mfinyongo, violinist Zanta Hofmeyr, pianist Erika Bothma, and string ensembles in various formations.
From Amy Beach’s achingly beautiful Romance for violin and piano to the hair-raising excitement of Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum” for string quintet, this programme also involves a strange encounter with a staircase…
Sunday, 19 March
Convention Concert 5│19 March, 13:00
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
REVEL – Music inspired by song and dance with music by Mozart, Fitzenhagen and the ever-popular “Trout” quintet by Schubert.
Among the performers are the baritone Njabulo Mthimkhulu, pianist Sue Patterson-Jones, German double bassist Gudrun Raschen, and other string players well-known to local Gqeberha audiences, including Suzanne Martens and Anmari van der Westhuizen. Jan-Hendrik Harley will make a special appearance on the mandolin.
Convention Concert 6│19 March, 19:30
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
RESONATE – Gala Concert of the 2023 South African Strings Convention. Performed by soloists David Bester (violin) and Dizu Plaatjies (uhadi and umrhubhe), this concert will see the world premiere of an exciting new concerto, co-composed by Dizu Plaatjies and Matthijs van Dijk.
Drawing inspiration from the Renaissance to Rock’n’Roll, listeners will experience an immersive performance of Vaughan-Williams’ breath-taking “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” for double string orchestra, performed by mass string orchestra and conducted by Leon Bosch.
Monday, 20 March
Convention Concert 7│20 March, 13:00
Auditorium
Nelson Mandela University, South Campus
REDEFINE – The closing concert of the 2023 South African Strings Convention.
Featuring jazz guitarist Jared Houlie and and winner of the inaugural SASF Strings Competition DAPHNE, this concert showcases how boundaries are shifted by South Africa’s next generation of string artists.
