Varsity music department celebrates 100 years with jazz concert

Special guests include community partners from Mitchells Plain and Mamre

THE Stellenbosch University Jazz Band will hold a concert that pays tribute to two heroic South African icons as part of the institution’s centennial celebrations this year.

The university’s spokesperson, Martin Viljoen, said the Legacy Celebration Concert of the university’s music department would be held at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch on Friday. The event will mark the centennial of the university and late president Nelson Mandela, as well as pay tribute to legendary musician and activist Hugh Masekela.

“Stellenbosch University Jazz Band has never failed to captivate audiences, and over the years has gained a reputation for vibrant and energetic performances. The most recent was their concert with Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman, Amanda Strydom and Timothy Moloi during the Woordfees 2018 festival,” said Viljoen.

Special guests for the concert include Stellenbosch University music department community partners from areas such as Mitchells Plain, Athlone, Kuils River, Khayelitsha, Ceres, Mamre and Cloetesville.

Vocal soloists will include Sima Mashazi, Babalwa Meintjies and Mynhardt Kruger, with Felicia Lesch conducting the Stellenbosch University Jazz Band.

Viljoen said the evening would specifically be dedicated to launching the new Social Impact initiative of Stellenbosch University’s music department Roots@SU.

Roots@SU encompasses a number of programmes and projects that the music department was involved in through the certificate programmes, rural engagement programme, service learning programme, Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, Endler Concert Series and many other off-site partnership programmes, he added.

Some of their representatives will perform alongside the Stellenbosch University Jazz Band in one of the musical items called Nelson Mandela. The evening also serves as the launch event of the partnership between Stellenbosch University and the e’Bosch Heritage Project.

Tickets for pensioners, students and pupils cost R40 each, with regular ticket prices costing R60 each.

They are available through Computicket and at the door one hour before the show starts.