18 Aug 2010 From 21 August to 7 September 2010, the South African College of Music (SACM) celebrates its Centenary with a series of concerts showcasing the many genres at the College. Mike Campbell and the UCT Big Band open the festival at the Baxter Concert Hall, honouring Count Basie on his birthday. The festival ends with a flourish at the Cape Town City Hall with François du Toit playing a Mozart Piano Concerto with the UCT Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bernhard Geuller.

Considered to be the leading music school in South Africa, the SACM offers degrees and diplomas in African Music, Composition, Jazz, Opera, Western Classical Music and World Music.  The music staff includes internationally acclaimed performing artists, academics and composers, some of whom will be performing together with current and past students at the Centenary Festival.

A diverse, exciting programme has been planned that includes:  the UCT String Ensemble; a recital for Organ and Speaker by Mario Nell and Marina Griebenow, the Bacharova Quintet; jazz vocalist Nicky Schrire and friends visiting from Manhattan University; African Music with Dizu Plaatjies; the UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble conducted by Alexander Fokkens; original works by composer Martin Watt, including a Clarinet Quintet, Piano Trio and Suite for Violin and Piano. There is also chamber music co-ordinated by Becky Steltzner and a workshop production of Le Nozze di Figaro, directed by Angelo Gobbato with Kamal Khan at the piano on 2, 3, and 4 September 2010.

The South African College of Music was founded by a group of musicians led by Madame Apolline Niay-Darroll and opened one hundred years ago in Strand Street with six students. In 1912 the English composer, W.H. Bell (1873 - 1946) became Principal of the SACM. Two years later the College moved to larger premises in Stal Plein and in 1920 Bell became Professor of Music at the University of Cape Town. In 1923 the SACM was incorporated into the University. Professor Bell was appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Music.

Today the SACM is headed by Professor Paula Ensor, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities together with Director Dr Morné Bezuidenhout and Deputy Director, Associate Professor François du Toit.  Other notable staff members include: Professor Kamal Khan, Director of the Opera School, Professors Hendrik Hofmeyr, Peter Klatzow, Mike Rossi, Associate Professors Dr Mike Campbell,  Dr Franklin Larey, Dr Anri Herbst, Virginia, Davids, and Dr Martin Watt, Dr Brad Liebl, Sidwell Hartman, Dr Andrew Lilley, Amanda Tiffin, Darryl Andrews, Patrick Tikolo, Michael Nixon, Sylvia Bruinders, James Grace, William Haubrich and Becky Steltzner.

The most recent past students currently working on the international circuit include sopranos Pretty Yende, now studying at La Scala and sharing the stage with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, and Montserrat Caballé,  Kimmy Skota, currently touring with André Rieu. Pianist James Baillieu is in demand as a concert and chamber musician in England and Europe, and is a junior fellow at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Pianist Kathy Tagg is now based in New York as a pianist and a promoter of South African music and artists. Jazz vocalist Nicky Schrire is making a mark in New York. Baritone Musawenkosi Ngqugwana has just secured a role in an opera in Europe after making it to the final round of the prestigious Belvedere Competition in Vienna. Soprano Golda Schultz is a postgraduate student at Juilliard and performing in professional operas in America.

The Centenary concerts take place at Baxter Concert Hall, Chisholm Recital Room and Cape Town City Hall.  Concert times vary : 3pm, 6pm, 7.30pm and 8.15pm as well as two free lunchtime performances at 1pm. Ticket Prices range from R20 to R60 - includes pensioner, UCT Staff, students and learner discounts. Book through Computicket, Shoprite Checkers outlets, and www.computicket.com as well as at the door 45 minutes before each performance.  For more information contact Gillian Lindner on 021 650 2640 or www.uct.ac/depts/sacm/

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PROGRAMME

SA COLLEGE OF MUSIC CENTENARY FESTIVAL

21 August to 7 September 2010

CONCERTS :

Saturday 21 Aug at 8.15 pm

UCT BIG BAND

COUNT BASIE BIRTHDAY BASH

Baxter Concert Hall

The Count Basie Tribute concert falls on the late William "Count" Basie's birthday, featuring the UCT Big Band and special guests the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band. The NYJB is under the direction of Mike Campbell this year, so a combined concert with the two groups is especially appropriate.

The NYJB is chosen at the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival each year, from the top young jazz musicians attending schools and universities around the country. The first half will feature a variety of styles in small group format, then the UCT Big Band takes the second half with an all-Basie programme that highlights some famous moments from the history of the world's most swinging big band. Soloists from the NYJB will also feature with the big band in this tribute to a great bandleader of the swing era Mike Campbell and the UCT Big Band celebrate the music of Count Basie on his birthday.

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Tuesday 24 August at 8.15 pm

UCT STRING ENSEMBLE

Baxter Concert Hall

Conductor: Alexander Fokkens

This concert features an arrangement for string ensemble of the

Souvenir de Florence by Tchaikovsky as well as a Sinfonia by

the youthful Mendelssohn.

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Wednesday 25 August at 6 pm

MARIO NELL (ORGAN RECITAL), MARINA GRIEBENOW (SPEAKER)

Baxter Concert Hall

Petr Eben - The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart for

organ and speaker.

Prices: R40 / UCT Staff: R35 / Senior citizens and students: R25 / learners / R20

Wednesday 25 August at 8.15 pm

BACHAROVA QUINTET

Baxter Concert Hall

Farida Bacharova and Patrick Goodwin (violins), Paula Fourie (viola),

Kristiyan Chernev (cello), François du Toit (piano)

Schumann Quintet

Dvo?ák Quintet Op. 81

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Thursday 26 August at 1 pm

Free Lunchtime Concert

Chisholm Recital Room - Jazz

Alumni Nicky Schrire & friends she has made at Manhattan University

Thursday 26 August at 8.15 pm

AFRICAN MUSIC

Baxter Concert Hall or Chisholm Room

Dizu Plaatjies presents a concert showcasing the students from the African Music studio.

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Friday 27 August at 8.15 pm

UCT SYMPHONIC WIND ENSEMBLE

Baxter Concert Hall

Conductor: Alexander Fokkens

The programme includes works by Malcolm Arnold, Philip Sparke and John Corigliano.

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Saturday 28 August at 3 pm

WORKS BY MARTIN WATT

Chisholm Recital Room

The concert includes Martin Watt’s Clarinet Quintet, Piano Trio and

Suite for Violin and Piano, as well as some choral works and a

new work for tenor and piano.

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Tuesday 31 August, Wednesday 1 September at 7.30 pm

CHAMBER MUSIC

Chisholm Recital Room

Concerts co-ordinated by Becky Steltzner, featuring students from the SACM.

Admission free, but donations at the door in aid of the SACM Chamber Music Scholarship Fund will be most welcome.

Thursday 2 September at 1 pm

Free Lunchtime Concert

Chisholm Recital Room

Jane Yu (piano) and Friends

Programme includes works by Chopin, Debussy and Brahms.

Thursday 2, Friday 3, Saturday 4 September at 7.30pm

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO

Baxter Concert Hall

Mozart’s effervescent comedy receives a workshop production

spotlighting the depth and breadth of UCT Opera School talent.

Angelo Gobbato directs, and Kamal Khan is at the piano.

Prices: R50 / UCT Staff: R45 / Senior citizens and students: R35 / learners: R25

Tuesday 7 September at 8.15 pm

END OF FESTIVAL GALA CONCERT

UCT SYMPHONY CONCERT

Cape Town City Hall 

Soloist: François du Toit (piano)

Conductor: Bernhard Gueller

Dvorák - Czech Suite

Mozart - Piano Concerto in D minor K.466

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5.

Prices: R60 / UCT Staff: R55 / Senior citizens and students: R40 /learners: R30

HISTORY

The South African College of Music at UCT

The South African College of Music was founded by a group of musicians led by Madame Apolline Niay-­Darroll and opened one hundred years ago in Strand Street with six students. In 1912 the English composer, W.H. Bell (1873-1946) became Principal of the SACM. Two years later the College moved to larger premises in Stal Plein. In 1920 Bell became Professor of Music at the University of Cape Town, and in 1923 the SACM was incorporated into the University. Professor Bell was appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Music. "Strubenholm" - previously the private residence of Harry Struben - has housed the SACM since 1925. It now contains administrative offices and lecture rooms as well as an exhibition hall for the world-renowned Kirby Collection of African, European and Asian instruments.  

Two new buildings, linked to Strubenholm, were completed at the end of 1972. The first contains the 160-seat Chisholm Recital Room (named after Erik Chisholm, Dean and Director 1946-65) and the Fiasconaro Room (named in honour of Gregorio Fiasconaro who directed the Opera School and Opera Company for many years). There are also nearly a hundred teaching and practicing studios. The second building is the W.H. Bell Music Library which houses an extensive collection of books, music and audio-visual material numbering some 52 000 items. The 638-seat Concert Hall in the Baxter Theatre Centre, completed in 1976, is an important performing and teaching venue for the SACM. In 1999 the Faculty of Music was incorporated into the Faculty of Humanities. The South African College of Music offers a number of degree and diploma courses in African music, Western Classical music, jazz and opera.

Dean, Faculty of Humanities :  Prof Paula Ensor
Director, SACM Deputy : Dr Morné Bezuidenhout

Deputy Director : A/Prof François du Toit
Director, UCT Opera School : Prof Kamal Khan

Western Classical Studies

Head: Dr Morné Bezuidenhout                                 
Brass Studies: William Haubrich Chamber Music: Becky Steltzner
Composition: Prof Peter Klatzow                                                                     
History, Theory and Literature: Prof Hendrik Hofmeyr (Head), Dr Martin Watt
Head, Practical Studies: A/Prof François du Toit
Keyboard Studies: A/Prof Franklin Larey (Head), A/Prof Albie van Schalkwyk
Music Education: A/Prof Anri Herbst
Postgraduate Programmes: Dr Morné Bezuidenhout
Strings and Orchestral Studies : A/Prof Farida Bacharova
Vocal Studies: A/Prof Virginia Davids (Head), Dr Brad Liebl,
Sidwill Hartman, Patrick Tikolo

Woodwind Studies: Becky Steltzner
UCT Opera School Director: Prof Kamal Khan
Jazz Studies Head: A/Prof Mike Campbell
Jazz Ensembles: Darryl Andrews
History, Theory and Literature: Dr Andrew Lilley
Jazz Practical Studies: Prof Mike Rossi
Jazz Vocal Studies: Amanda Tiffin

African Music Head: Michael Nixon
History, Theory and Literature: Sylvia Bruinders
Head of Practical Studies: Dizu Plaatjies