Concerts Series by the South African College of Music

7 August-16 November 2012. The Baxter Theatre hosts a rich programme of concerts, which will run throughout November, performed by students of the South African College of Music (SACM), founded in 1910.

On 7 August at 18.00 the organist Grant Braesler will perform some pieces by Sweelinck, Stanley, Françaix and Duruflé. At 20.15 there will be a competition for solo classical piano, better known as The Olive Lieberz-Theron Prize for Outstanding Pianism. This competition is open to all piano performance students of the SACM and means to award prize money from the Ultimate Wellness Trust.

On 21 August at 20.15 there will be a Students’ Quarterly Concert, arranged by Albie van Schalkwyk, which features a selection of performance students of the SACM.

On 28 August at 20.15 the piano sections of the University of Cape Town and the Stellenbosch University will present an evening of works, entitled Debussy Preludes, which pay tribute to the French composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918).

On 10-13 September Baxter will host the South African College of Music’s Quarterly Chamber Music Festival, arranged by Becky Steltzner. Free donations will be given in aid of the SACM Chamber Music Scholarship Fund.

On 11 September at 20.15 the Pianist Franklin Larey will perform exclusively Russian pieces, including Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.

On 18 September at 18.00 the organist Winand Grundling, who won the ATKV Music Competition in 2010, will perform his repertoire by Bach and Franck. At 20.15 Baxter will host a performance by Farida Bacharova, which will include a world premiere of a sonata for violin and piano, composed by Martin Watt.

On 25 September at 20.15 on stage will be the fifth edition of The Schock Foundation Prize for Chamber Music. On its final round it will feature ensembles selected from the SACM’s chamber music concerts throughout the past year.

On 27 and 28 September at 19.30 the visiting Swedish faculties Wilhelm Carlsson and Leif Lundberg from the University College of Opera in Sweden will showcase the results of their three-week residence at the University of Cape Town Opera School, putting a special emphasis on their German repertoire.

On 2 October at 20.15 there will be the University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra Concerto Festival, conducted by Alexander Fokkens. On this occasion six of the best students from the SACM will play as soloists with the orchestra.

On 9 October at 20.15 The University of Cape Town Symphonic Wind Ensamble will perform a concert, conducted by Alexander Fokkens. On 16 October at 18.00 some young Cape Town musician will perform their Organ Concert, including pieces by Bach and Mendelssohn.

On 13 October at 20.15 the Symphony Choir of Cape Town, in collaboration with the musicians of the SACM and the University of Cape Town Choir, will present a concert, entitled Mozart-C Minor Mass and conducted by Alexander Fokkens.

On 16 October at 20.15 a selection of performance and composition students of the SACM will perform a Students’ Quarterly Concert.

On 30 October at 20.15 on stage will be the University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, who will perform some pieces by Rajna and Kalinnikov, conducted by Alexander Fokkens.

On 6 November at 20.15 there will be The Schock Foundarion Prize for Singing. This annual voice competition will award the SACM full time students of the second and third year for the Best Male and the Best Female Voice.

On 13-15 November at 19.30 a series of concerts will be performed live by some SACM students within the SACM Quarterly Chamber Music Festival, arranged by Becky Steltzner.

On 16 November at 20.15 there will be the final round of the Laura Searle Prize for Concerto Playing. The awarded piano students from SACM will be able to play with the University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra in 2013.