The Chamber Choir of the Department of Music – Stellenbosch University
In the first five years of Schola Cantorum’s existence, the academic chamber choir and residential choir of the Department of Music at Stellenbosch University has established itself as one of the pre-eminent choirs in the country.
The standard of musicianship of this choir, which was founded with the primary function of serving as an instrument for particularly postgraduate students in choral conducting at the university, has already received international acclaim. Some of these student workshops and examinations give choristers the opportunity to work with several international and national conductors and educators in singing; a practice which was emphasised at the first Stellenbosch University International Choral Conducting Symposium in 2009, for which Schola Cantorum was the residential choir.
Other projects and invitations include participation in Carmina Burana with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2009, performances for the Stellenbosch Music Society and the Music Academy of St Andrews Presbyterian Church Concert Series during 2008, a performance for the 150th anniversary of the Theological Seminary in Stellenbosch later in 2009, and different workshops and masterclasses for the Department of Music. In 2010 the chamber choir also performed under Kåre Hanken in a performance of Bach’s Jesu meine Freude and under Romāns Vanags in a programme of Baltic music with saxophonist Artis Sīmanis.
Since the end of 2009 the choir is also host to the Soloists Choir which contracted mainly trained singers for special projects as was the case for a concert of Afrikaans art music for choir linked to the Woordfees. In 2011 this project will officially be included into the programme of the Woordfees. Another project of this ensemble is a concert with Hanneli Rupert on La Motte wine estate at the end of 2010.
The artistic direction is managed by Martin Berger.
