Partners
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The Flat Mountain Project
The Flat Mountain Project, lead by Annien Shaw, is a team of skilled professional musicians based mostly in Cape Town, who come together to collaborate on exciting projects, showcasing modern and experimental music within the classical music genre. Their aim is to create a platform for modern classical music to be performed in unconventional and interesting spaces, while promoting local composers and South African classical music. Flat Mountain supports the creation, production, and release of new music, and is in the process of launching a score publishing house. This new project will bring study sources to libraries, connect musicians with contemporary composers, and establish new growth within the South African music industry. |
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Endler Concert Series
Since its inception, the Endler Concert Series has expanded to include a diversity of music genres including Jazz, Choral and Operatic music. Apart from the wealth of professional acts that appear on the Endler Hall stage, the concert series also gives exposure and opportunity to students from around the country, and in particular, from Stellenbosch University. These live music concerts serve to unite, uplift and inspire the communities they play to. As part of an academic institution the primary goal of the Endler Concert Series is to provide a forum for the creative work of our own lecturers and students as well as to excellent artists from other parts of South Africa and from abroad. At the same time we see this as an important service to the broader community of Stellenbosch. |
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South African Strings Foundation
SASF is a non-profit organisation aiming to develop a strong and long-lasting sense of community between South African string players, including traditional stringed instruments, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, harp, electric and acoustic guitars. This initiative stems from the initial creation – South Africa’s first online convention for string instrumentalists in October 2020. The successful response to this inauguration was a clear indication of the general need of artists to learn, share, connect and inspire each other. |
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The Songmakers’ Guild
is an organisation dedicated to the performance of art songs in all languages in the Cape Town area. It was established by Albie and Hanna van Schalkwyk and Johan and Margaretha Stemmet in 1994, and has since showcased many prominent art song performers from South Africa and abroad in a wide variety of programmes. In 2022, a new chapter started for the Guild when the long-time committee members handed over the reins to Esthea Kruger, Minette du Toit-Pearce, Magdalene Minnaar and Christine Bam. The committee was further extended with the addition of Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi and Christon Southgate in 2023. |
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The Cape Town Baroque Orchestra is the leading South African baroque ensemble playing on period instruments. It was founded by violinist Quentin Crida in July 2004 as Camerata Tinta Barocca. As of July 2021 the ensemble has adopted the name Cape Town Baroque Orchestra, carrying it into a new age of growth and artistic excellence.
Apart from CTB’s annual concert series in St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Cape Town, the ensemble regularly accompanies opera and oratorio performances, performs in festivals throughout South Africa and has an active outreach and education programme. CTB’s concerts have been broadcast on Fine Music Radio and kykNET, and have received critical acclaim in the Cape Times and Die Burger. Erik Dippenaar was appointed as Artistic Director in 2015. |
Arthur Feder (1987-) is a dedicated composer and lecturer known for his versatile musical expressions. Holding an MMus in Composition (with a focus on orchestration) cum laude from Stellenbosch University, Arthur is passionate about composition, pedagogy, and promoting new music.
Having contributed to over 80 premieres of orchestral and chamber works as part of the KOMPOS student initiative, Arthur collaborates with talented musicians and finds joy in guiding aspiring musicians as a lecturer at Stellenbosch University.
Arthur's compositions span jazz, film, mixed media, and art music idioms. He appreciates recognition and commissions from esteemed ensembles, with performances by groups such as the Axelson Nielsen duo, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, the Intoga Reed Quintet, and the Odeion String Quartet.
In film scoring, Arthur has contributed to feature-length films, short films, animations, and documentaries. Collaborating with The Animation School in Cape Town, he has created over 20 scores for animations. Arthur is grateful for recent performances at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, and ECPO where his intricate melodies and emotive narratives resonated with audiences. His works have been featured on album recordings by the Horizons Project Choir and the Juliet String Quartet, marking significant milestones.
Remaining humble, Arthur continues to explore his artistic identity in a multicultural-multigenre playground, seeking growth and innovation in contemporary composition. Through unwavering dedication to his craft and commitment to nurturing young musicians, Arthur Feder is respected in the music industry, leaving an indelible mark on local and international stages.
Having contributed to over 80 premieres of orchestral and chamber works as part of the KOMPOS student initiative, Arthur collaborates with talented musicians and finds joy in guiding aspiring musicians as a lecturer at Stellenbosch University.
Arthur's compositions span jazz, film, mixed media, and art music idioms. He appreciates recognition and commissions from esteemed ensembles, with performances by groups such as the Axelson Nielsen duo, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, the Intoga Reed Quintet, and the Odeion String Quartet.
In film scoring, Arthur has contributed to feature-length films, short films, animations, and documentaries. Collaborating with The Animation School in Cape Town, he has created over 20 scores for animations. Arthur is grateful for recent performances at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, and ECPO where his intricate melodies and emotive narratives resonated with audiences. His works have been featured on album recordings by the Horizons Project Choir and the Juliet String Quartet, marking significant milestones.
Remaining humble, Arthur continues to explore his artistic identity in a multicultural-multigenre playground, seeking growth and innovation in contemporary composition. Through unwavering dedication to his craft and commitment to nurturing young musicians, Arthur Feder is respected in the music industry, leaving an indelible mark on local and international stages.
The creative output of South African-born composer Antoni Schonken (1987-) negotiates themes of landscape, displacement, political failure, self-reflection, and queer identity. His compositions delve into the realms of narrative parallelism and dyssynchronous form. His musical style is a dialogue that traverses minimalism, impressionism, neo-romanticism, spectralism, noise, and trans-cultural paradigms. Reviews have described his music as finely choreographed, with a distinct emphasis on cultivating vocal qualities within instrumental genres. Additionally, his profound spiritual connection with landscape as a space of finding and being imbues his musical expression with a deeply moving authenticity.
His portfolio includes notable commissions and collaborations with leading ensembles, including Oxford Camerata, Unheardof//Ensemble, Juliet Quartet, Cape Town Philharmonic, JIMF, GrassRoots, Sinfonia Gaia, Horizons Project Choir, and Cape Town Baroque. Noteworthy partnerships with NATi, Woordfees, celebrated director Marthinus Bassoon, and internationally renowned poet Antjie Krog culminated in the creation of "A Mass for the Universe" (Die Nuwe Verbond), a challenging work that involves choir, soloists, and instruments. This composition has received resounding acclaim and has been showcased across diverse venues in South Africa and Europe. Pieter Bezuidenhout and Vektor Productions were key partners in the development of this large-scale work.
During his time at residencies and festivals in the USA, Antoni collaborated with composers Ken Ueno, Hannah Lash, David Ludwig, Mari Kimura, and Pierre Jalbert. His European engagements included residencies and guest lectures at institutions in Finland, Sweden, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. In 2019, he was commissioned by the SICMF to produce a large-scale composition celebrating the life of Johnny Clegg. In the same year, he teamed up once more with Pieter Bezuidenhout to perform Die Nuwe Verbond at the International Poetry Festival in Rotterdam.
Antoni’s film scores are currently broadcast by CBS Studios, BBC Earth Canada, Terra Mater, The Smithsonian, and Amazon Prime, and his film works have won awards in SA, the UK, Europe, and the USA. His film scores have been heard at more than 80 film festivals, including prestigious events like Annecy, Toronto, New York Festivals, BANG, and Cannes.
Presently, Antoni lectures at Stellenbosch University in music theory, composition, orchestration, and film music.
His portfolio includes notable commissions and collaborations with leading ensembles, including Oxford Camerata, Unheardof//Ensemble, Juliet Quartet, Cape Town Philharmonic, JIMF, GrassRoots, Sinfonia Gaia, Horizons Project Choir, and Cape Town Baroque. Noteworthy partnerships with NATi, Woordfees, celebrated director Marthinus Bassoon, and internationally renowned poet Antjie Krog culminated in the creation of "A Mass for the Universe" (Die Nuwe Verbond), a challenging work that involves choir, soloists, and instruments. This composition has received resounding acclaim and has been showcased across diverse venues in South Africa and Europe. Pieter Bezuidenhout and Vektor Productions were key partners in the development of this large-scale work.
During his time at residencies and festivals in the USA, Antoni collaborated with composers Ken Ueno, Hannah Lash, David Ludwig, Mari Kimura, and Pierre Jalbert. His European engagements included residencies and guest lectures at institutions in Finland, Sweden, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. In 2019, he was commissioned by the SICMF to produce a large-scale composition celebrating the life of Johnny Clegg. In the same year, he teamed up once more with Pieter Bezuidenhout to perform Die Nuwe Verbond at the International Poetry Festival in Rotterdam.
Antoni’s film scores are currently broadcast by CBS Studios, BBC Earth Canada, Terra Mater, The Smithsonian, and Amazon Prime, and his film works have won awards in SA, the UK, Europe, and the USA. His film scores have been heard at more than 80 film festivals, including prestigious events like Annecy, Toronto, New York Festivals, BANG, and Cannes.
Presently, Antoni lectures at Stellenbosch University in music theory, composition, orchestration, and film music.
Ensembles & Artists
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The Stellenbosch University Jazz Band
is a vehicle for students who love jazz, and comprises students of the degree, diploma, and certificate programmes. It creates a vibrant flow of energy and cross-pollination of skills between members. The SUJB gave its first performance as an official university jazz ensemble at the Endler Hall in 2009, with resounding success. In 2012 the SUJB won the National Ensemble Competition, winning their category as well as the overall competition. In recent years, the band has gained popularity at the US Woordfees and had the honour of appearing alongside Sibongile Khumalo, Judith Sephuma, Gloria Bosman, Timothy Moloi, Jannie Moolman, Louis Loock, PJ Powers, Corlea Botha, Amanda Strydom and Tete Mbambisa. |
spityellow! - uncapitalized but with an exclamation mark - is a Stellenbosch based vocal ensemble https://www.instagram.com/spityellow/
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The Stellenbosch University Strings Ensemble, led by Suzanne Martens, perform works with students in the strings division to develop group performance practice of old and new music, as a research and an educational tool. Currently, they are working on performance projects within a research paradigm, building out a growing body of artistic research about South African music and composers.
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The Maties Jazz Society (MJS), founded by Ramon Alexander in 2022, is a loose collective of present and past jazz students and enthusiasts at the University of Stellenbosch (US) Music Department. They present a programme with a signature blend of standard jazz repertoire, Cape Jazz, and originals. Alexander is considered a leading exponent of the South African sub-genre of Cape Jazz. He has established himself as a jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer, having performed at various jazz and music festivals around the world.
Pianist and composer Ramon Alexander is considered a leading exponent of Cape Jazz. He studied jazz piano under Merton Barrow at The Jazz Workshop in Cape Town after he finished high school. He however graduated with a BSc.Agric) from Stellenbosch University in 2004 in viticulture and oenology. Since he was selected as pianist for the Standard Bank National Youth Big Band in 2004, Alexander worked with a variety of artists such as Robbie Jansen, Errol Dyers, McCoy Mrubata, Mark Hauser, Tuur Forizone , Frank Paco’s Art Ensemble, Japanese trumpet legend, Terumasa Hino and The Cape Jazz Band, led by veteran drummer Jack Momple.
His ensemble has performed at numerous local and international music festivals, notably the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Borneo International Jazz Festival, The Darling Music Experience as well a residency at No Black Tie Jazz Clubin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2019. Alexander has two albums to his credit. (Picnic at Kontiki [2011] and Echoes from Louwskloof [2015] ). In 2018 Cape Jazz Pianowas released by Mountain Records. He’s also produced numerous recording projects across various genres, most notably Essence of Spring [2018] by Cape Town jazz icon Ibrahim Khalil Shihab.
He also regularly conducts jazz ensemble workshops youth bands in the Western Cape.
Pianist and composer Ramon Alexander is considered a leading exponent of Cape Jazz. He studied jazz piano under Merton Barrow at The Jazz Workshop in Cape Town after he finished high school. He however graduated with a BSc.Agric) from Stellenbosch University in 2004 in viticulture and oenology. Since he was selected as pianist for the Standard Bank National Youth Big Band in 2004, Alexander worked with a variety of artists such as Robbie Jansen, Errol Dyers, McCoy Mrubata, Mark Hauser, Tuur Forizone , Frank Paco’s Art Ensemble, Japanese trumpet legend, Terumasa Hino and The Cape Jazz Band, led by veteran drummer Jack Momple.
His ensemble has performed at numerous local and international music festivals, notably the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Borneo International Jazz Festival, The Darling Music Experience as well a residency at No Black Tie Jazz Clubin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2019. Alexander has two albums to his credit. (Picnic at Kontiki [2011] and Echoes from Louwskloof [2015] ). In 2018 Cape Jazz Pianowas released by Mountain Records. He’s also produced numerous recording projects across various genres, most notably Essence of Spring [2018] by Cape Town jazz icon Ibrahim Khalil Shihab.
He also regularly conducts jazz ensemble workshops youth bands in the Western Cape.
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The Ploemies
“...Truly an important group of pioneering young musicians keeping South African music alive
while updating it with injections of Fusion, Funk and Ghoema!”
- Samantha Nel (@ohthestoriesyoulltell)
This is but one of the many sentiments conveyed whenever The Ploemies perform throughout Southern Africa. The group comprises of Bradley Prince (Electric Guitar), Duncan Johnson (Saxophone), Shaun Johannes (Electric Bass Guitar) and Keno Carelse (Drumset) and pride themselves on performing exclusively South African repertoire with a preference for works by lesser-known and/or unrecorded composers and artists. While they all come from different regions within the Western Cape and are at different stages in their careers, they share a common upbringing: coming from previously disenfranchised neighbourhoods all rife with gangsterism,
drugs and poverty! Despite this, heir passion for music and drive to empower their fellow musicians, composers and arrangers who would otherwise not have had a musical voice, are a shared goal with the performances and workshops that have been and are currently in their planning phase. Each member injects their own unique understanding of the music while paying homage to
its roots with the sole aim of exposing the world to the musical heritage and future possibilities of South African Jazz within the realms of Jazz Fusion. Musical influences include Ghoema (South Africa), Marabenta (Mozambique), Kwassa-Kwassa (Congo) and Salsa (Cuba), to mention a few that are employed in their current repertoire. A true joy for playing as a unit and also sharing in the
musical bounty of the Western Cape is clearly evident whenever they perform. Infectious grooves, intricate yet melodic improvisation and getting crowds on their feet are always going to be going on at their concerts!
“...Truly an important group of pioneering young musicians keeping South African music alive
while updating it with injections of Fusion, Funk and Ghoema!”
- Samantha Nel (@ohthestoriesyoulltell)
This is but one of the many sentiments conveyed whenever The Ploemies perform throughout Southern Africa. The group comprises of Bradley Prince (Electric Guitar), Duncan Johnson (Saxophone), Shaun Johannes (Electric Bass Guitar) and Keno Carelse (Drumset) and pride themselves on performing exclusively South African repertoire with a preference for works by lesser-known and/or unrecorded composers and artists. While they all come from different regions within the Western Cape and are at different stages in their careers, they share a common upbringing: coming from previously disenfranchised neighbourhoods all rife with gangsterism,
drugs and poverty! Despite this, heir passion for music and drive to empower their fellow musicians, composers and arrangers who would otherwise not have had a musical voice, are a shared goal with the performances and workshops that have been and are currently in their planning phase. Each member injects their own unique understanding of the music while paying homage to
its roots with the sole aim of exposing the world to the musical heritage and future possibilities of South African Jazz within the realms of Jazz Fusion. Musical influences include Ghoema (South Africa), Marabenta (Mozambique), Kwassa-Kwassa (Congo) and Salsa (Cuba), to mention a few that are employed in their current repertoire. A true joy for playing as a unit and also sharing in the
musical bounty of the Western Cape is clearly evident whenever they perform. Infectious grooves, intricate yet melodic improvisation and getting crowds on their feet are always going to be going on at their concerts!
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Durban born soprano Lauren Dasappa is a dynamic and committed musical artist exhibiting expressive music-making that deeply touches the emotions of audiences, connecting with people from all walks of life.
Dasappa has performed numerous operatic roles including acclaimed performances as Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Despina (Cosi fan tutte) and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) – Mozart – Da Ponte trilogy and Gretel in Humperdick’s “Hansel and Gretel”. She has in addition to this performed many oratorio and Baroque works which allowed her the opportunity of touring with Baroque orchestra, Baroque 2000.
Dasappa maintains an extensive concert repertoire of standard and modern works and is profoundly supportive of the revival of the art song recital. Lauren appears frequently with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and hence has performed at major international in addition to numerous nationwide events.
Dasappa’s voice, although classically trained, is not limited to classical music, as she has extended herself to lighter works, winning a Theatre award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Fairy Godmother in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. She has similarly excelled in popular music and was awarded an international recording contract with Universal Studios as an undergrad.
Dasappa conducts vocal workshops, coaches vocal ensembles and soloists for major productions. Her deep dedication to her musical career both when she takes to the stage and to her students, is reflected and reciprocally amplified by her performances and the immense results achieved from her students at Stellenbosch University’s music department, where she currently lectures in Classical Voice.
Dasappa has performed numerous operatic roles including acclaimed performances as Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Despina (Cosi fan tutte) and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) – Mozart – Da Ponte trilogy and Gretel in Humperdick’s “Hansel and Gretel”. She has in addition to this performed many oratorio and Baroque works which allowed her the opportunity of touring with Baroque orchestra, Baroque 2000.
Dasappa maintains an extensive concert repertoire of standard and modern works and is profoundly supportive of the revival of the art song recital. Lauren appears frequently with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and hence has performed at major international in addition to numerous nationwide events.
Dasappa’s voice, although classically trained, is not limited to classical music, as she has extended herself to lighter works, winning a Theatre award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Fairy Godmother in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. She has similarly excelled in popular music and was awarded an international recording contract with Universal Studios as an undergrad.
Dasappa conducts vocal workshops, coaches vocal ensembles and soloists for major productions. Her deep dedication to her musical career both when she takes to the stage and to her students, is reflected and reciprocally amplified by her performances and the immense results achieved from her students at Stellenbosch University’s music department, where she currently lectures in Classical Voice.
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LIAM BURDEN
Saxophonist and conductor Liam Burden teaches saxophone and clarinet at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre where he is Departmental Head: Woodwinds and Singing and is principal conductor of the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra. He lectures saxophone at Stellenbosch University on a part-time basis and is currently completing his MMus through the same institution researching repertoire choices of youth orchestras in South Africa which is a passion for him. |
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Acknowledged as one of South Africa’s leading musicians and teachers, Mario Nell is a senior lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch. He studied at the Universities of Port Elizabeth and Stellenbosch before he completed his Masters degree in performance at the University of Cape Town and a PhD at the University of Stellenbosch. Also holding a UPLM from Unisa, he was the winner of the Unisa Overseas Music Bursary Competition. From 1999-2001 he furthered his studies at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. From 2006-2007 he also studied for his Nachdiplom at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland where his main focus was on historical performance practice.
He won first prizes in all the major music competitions in South Africa. This includes the National Youth Music-, ATKV Prelude and Forte-, Mabel Quick-, Oude Meester- and Unisa Overseas Music Competitions. During his periods of study abroad he also distinguished himself in several important international competitions including a top prize at the Calgary International Competition with performances in Germany and Hong Kong.
Since he made his debut with the SABC Orchestra in 1993, he has appeared as soloist with all the major orchestras in South Africa. Since 1999 he gave recitals in Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, England and South Korea. He was also invited as guest professor at the national University of the Arts in Seoul, South Korea, in 2002 and 2003.
Besides a busy performance schedule as soloist, accompanist and chamber music musician, he is an active teacher and his students has been the overall winners of all the major music competitions in South Africa, eg the Sanlam-, Artscape-, Artstrust Piano-, Mabel Quick-, Samro -, Grahamstown National-, Unisa National Organ-, ATKV Muziq and Unisa Overseas Music Bursary Competitions. From 2010-2014 he received the University of Stellenbosch Rector’s prize for excellence as teacher. He is often invited to give masterclasses and as juror for music competitions and serves as examiner for Unisa music examinations.
He won first prizes in all the major music competitions in South Africa. This includes the National Youth Music-, ATKV Prelude and Forte-, Mabel Quick-, Oude Meester- and Unisa Overseas Music Competitions. During his periods of study abroad he also distinguished himself in several important international competitions including a top prize at the Calgary International Competition with performances in Germany and Hong Kong.
Since he made his debut with the SABC Orchestra in 1993, he has appeared as soloist with all the major orchestras in South Africa. Since 1999 he gave recitals in Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, England and South Korea. He was also invited as guest professor at the national University of the Arts in Seoul, South Korea, in 2002 and 2003.
Besides a busy performance schedule as soloist, accompanist and chamber music musician, he is an active teacher and his students has been the overall winners of all the major music competitions in South Africa, eg the Sanlam-, Artscape-, Artstrust Piano-, Mabel Quick-, Samro -, Grahamstown National-, Unisa National Organ-, ATKV Muziq and Unisa Overseas Music Bursary Competitions. From 2010-2014 he received the University of Stellenbosch Rector’s prize for excellence as teacher. He is often invited to give masterclasses and as juror for music competitions and serves as examiner for Unisa music examinations.
Annemie du Plessis is currently a Master’s student in composition at Stellenbosch University, under the direction of Antoni Shonken and Arthur Feder. During 2022 and 2023 she conducted various sound installations including Sound Play, Sound Roots and Shadow Voices. She studied composition with Melissa van der Spuy in 2020 and completed a bridging composition course under the supervision of Melissa, Arthur and Antoni in 2021. As freelance viola player, she has gained orchestral experience with various orchestras in South Africa and neighbouring countries (including the National Youth Orhestra, Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Music Initiative as well as Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra). She was a finalist in the UNISA National bursary competition in 2002 and has performed as soloist with ensembles and orchestras in 2002 to 2006. She obtained her Master’s cum laude in Industrial Engineering from Stellenbosch University in 2008 and currently works in the Logistics and Supply Chain industry. She often plays for national shows such as Classics is Groot and Afrikaans in styl and is also a member of the Novus string quartet who predominantly plays new music.
Ncebakazi Mnukwana is a music lecturer of Music Education or Pedagogy and African Music at the University of Stellenbosch Music Department. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Western Art Music from the University of Cape Town and Master of Music from the same institution in African music specializing in pedagogy. Mnukwana also holds a Master of Philosophy in Multicultural Education and Education in the Developing World at the Oslo University College in Norway. She serves on the boards in Cape Town of the Cornerstone Institute, the Cape Cultural Collective, Molo Songololo and Camissa Museum.
Thokozani Ndumiso Mhlambi, a musician, songwriter, and cultural pioneer, was born in South Africa on September 18, 1984. Mhlambi became well-known for his concert-lecture performances, which he began doing in 2016 at the Mazisi Kunene Museum in Durban. For this performance, in 2018, he was nominated for the National Institute for Humanities and Social Science Creative Prize. Mhlambi's ""Amakholwa"" series, a project to celebrate the accomplishments of early African composers, was included on AfroPunk's digital platforms that same year.
Thokozani Ndumiso Mhlambi, a musician, songwriter, and cultural pioneer, was born in South Africa on September 18, 1984. Mhlambi became well-known for his concert-lecture performances, which he began doing in 2016 at the Mazisi Kunene Museum in Durban. For this performance, in 2018, he was nominated for the National Institute for Humanities and Social Science Creative Prize. Mhlambi's ""Amakholwa"" series, a project to celebrate the accomplishments of early African composers, was included on AfroPunk's digital platforms that same year.
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