STELLENBOSCH – The 20th edition of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) ended on a high note with the Festival Symphony Orchestra’s encore – a Shostakovich Polka – not only bringing everyone to their feet, but also soliciting the loudest applause ever heard at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch.
The festival was held at the Stellenbosch University Konservatorium from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 July.
Each year, the magic of the SICMF performances seems to transform its audiences and participants into fans, as one would expect at a pop concert. That this music can elicit such spontaneous exuberance is testimony to the quality of SICMF music making and its power to unite its truly diverse audience.
Dutch maestro, and conductor of this year’s Festival Symphony Orchestra, Antony Hermus said: “This festival was a celebration of connection, creativity and joy! Incredible music, brilliant people, Stellenbosch in full glory and many extremely talented students with shining eyes all around! It has been an honor to be part of it!”
MUSICAL MASTERCLASS
The 20th SICMF hosted seven faculty concerts, eight guest ensemble concerts, 12 additional student ensemble concerts, three workshops, seven public master classes, eight “in conversation with” lectures and four symphony concerts all within the space of 10 days.
And if that weren’t enough, the specially constituted SICMF Alumni Symphony Orchestra gave a spellbinding performance of some of the world’s most sublime symphonic music on the eve of the opening day of the SICMF.
In these concerts beautiful and much-loved works by Brahms, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Shostakovich and others were complemented by no less than eight South African and two world premieres.
A total of 31 faculty members representing over 20 countries, five guest artists, four assistant faculty members, eight invited student groups and 287 student participants that were divided into 92 chamber music groups and two large symphony orchestras, not only filled the air with glorious music for 10 days, but integrated with one another forging meaningful life-long friendships.
ART MEETS MUSIC
And while Gavin Rain’s 9 m² artwork created from 1 098 messages etched into metal circles, each individually angled to reveal the face of SICMF patron, the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, was not yet seen in the flesh, its virtual unveiling saw SICMF director Peter Martens, artistic director Nina Schumann, and Rain himself digging the foundation for the 300 kg work of art on the final day of the SICMF.
In addition to accommodating the faculty and students in the Endler Hall every evening, the SICMF sold 5 841 concert tickets while an additional 8 000 viewers from around 90 countries are estimated to have watched the live-streaming of 11 evening concerts.
PASSIONATE MUSIC MAKERS
After his final performance with the 152-piece Festival Concert Orchestra (FCO), conductor Maestro Micheal Repper said: “Leading the FCO in this milestone 20th year of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival was a true privilege. The young musicians brought incredible passion and skill, and the world-class faculty created an atmosphere of inspiration and excellence. My deepest congratulations to Nina Schumann and Peter Martens for building something so meaningful and enduring. SICMF is a gift to the musical world.”
With tears of joy and sadness, patrons and festival-goers left the Konservatorium building on Sunday evening, with much anticipation of what awaits when the popular festival turns 21 next year!
For more information on the festival, visit www.sicmf.co.za.
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