©2025 Tiffany Schutz, picture provided and published with permission
3 to 12 July at SU Konservatorium, Stellenbosch: Performances, public master classes, lectures and more!
With the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) just around the corner, and the well-publicized evening concerts selling well at Webtickets, patrons have been asking what else they can attend as day visitors to the festival.
The SICMF presents two student concerts each day, one at 13:00 and one at 17:00. On Friday 3 July, day visitors can hear the Stellenbosch University Percussion Ensemble and then later, the Cape Town Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Clarinet Quintet playing Brahms’ sublime clarinet quintet. On Saturday 4 July a group from the incredible Xiquitsi social project in Maputo, Mozambique will perform at 13:00 whilst a string quartet from the Royal College of Music in London will perform at 17:00. On Sunday 5 July the Dutch viola Ensemble will perform in the first slot whilst the first of the mixed student ensembles will perform at the 17:00 concert. On all the subsequent days up until 13:00 on Saturday 11 July, mixed student groups made up of the SICMF participants will perform daily at 13:00 and 17:00 in the Fismer Hall.
On opening night, just prior to the evening concert at 20:00, a new documentary film titled “Beyond the Music” will be screened. The documentary which also contains archival footage of the SICMF, was filmed at the 20th SICMF last year. Festival Director Peter Martens says “it is a most beautiful exposé of the SICMF behind the scenes, exquisitely produced by film maker, Dewet van Rooyen of WyrdFilms.” The screening takes place in the Jannasch Hall at 19:00 on Friday 3 July. Tickets for just R40 will be available at the door.
A particularly popular attraction at the SICMF is the daily masterclass. Public masterclasses will be held each day at 15:00 by Emanuil Ivanov (piano), Marco Silva (trumpet), Titus Underwood (oboe), Daniel Rowland (violin), Zoran Marković (double bass), Demarre McGill (flute), Boris Andrianov (cello), Mikhail Zemtsov (viola) and Miclen LaiPang (violin) respectively.
Long time supporter and patron of the SICMF, Sonia Gouws says, “My experience of the masterclasses during the Stellenbosch International Music Festival is extremely positive. The classes, led by international artists during the festival, help young musicians develop as performers. Participants (music students) receive masterclass coaching gaining insights they might not get at regular lessons. Attending as an observer where you hear detailed discussions about technique and interpretation is extremely interesting and brings about a greater appreciation for the art of performance and the musical work performed for audience and performers alike.”
Lastly, the lecture series “in Conversation with” takes place every evening from 4 to 12 July at 19:00 just before the coveted evening concert that takes place at 20:00 in the Endler Hall. SICMF faculty members engage in informal public interviews revealing their interesting lives and achievements often culminating in inspirational advice for students and music lovers alike.
Tickets are now available from Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1594623695
Please see www.sicmf.co.za for full programme and more Information.
Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/stb_chambermusic_festival/
Also read:
Press release: Celebrating 20 years – Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival 2025