Visit Wakkerstroom, where the music comes alive
Saturday, Sunday and Monday's programmes are jam-packed with a wide variety of classical music to cater to everybody’s tastes.
Each year the Wakkerstroom Music Festival endeavours to attract new artists and audiences to discover, rediscover and enjoy the works of the Great Masters of classical music.
The beautiful and historic town of Wakkerstroom will overflow with the sounds of classical music for the eighth consecutive year during the long weekend of 17 to 21 March.
This year’s festival kicks off on a high note with two performances not to be missed.
The first is a performance of American Art Songs by the South African-born baritone Christian Bester, all the way from America where he currently resides.
The second unique concert will be performed by Red Rhapsody Jazz Band, filling the night with music that tells stories about people, places, romance and magical moments.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s programmes are jam-packed with a wide variety of classical music to cater to everybody’s tastes.
Diverse styles and genres are to be performed, ranging from Early Music, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary to Indian Classical Music.
Highlights on the musical menu are performances by Pretoria Male Choir, the well-known Wits Trio with Zanta Hofmeyr (violin), Maciej Lacny (cello) and Malcolm Nay (piano), Agathe String Sextet in concert, and a performance of Indian Classical Music by Berthine van Schoor (cello), Vevek Ram (sitar), Rabin Ram (sarod) and Arindam Mukhopadhyay (vocals).
Also not to be missed are a unique presentation of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater, and a concert on the theme of birds and nature by soprano Gretel Coetzee from Windhoek in Namibia.
The cherries on the top are a ballet performance by the Youth Dance Company Tshwane, and the various art exhibitions in town.
It is the Wakkerstroom Music Festival’s vision to annually hold a sustainable classical music festival of exceptional quality linked to a bi-annual bursary competition.
Therefore this year’s festival also hosts the third Wakkerstroom Music Festival Bursary Competition (WMFBC) from the 20th to the 21st of March.
We highly recommend attending the exciting performances by the numerous participants.
Twelve bursaries worth a total of R160,000 for undergraduate or post-graduate classical music studies are to be awarded on the 21st of March in the following categories: Piano, string instruments, wind instruments and voice.
The detailed programme of performances and online bookings open on 20 February and can be accessed on www.wmfestival.co.za.
Accommodation tends to be snapped up quickly during the Festival weekend, so it is advisable to make reservations early.
Details about accommodation are also available on the website.
Any queries can be sent to info@wmfestival.co.za alternatively visit www.wmfestival.co.za
By: Linette van der Merwe. Published for and on behalf of: Wakkerstroom Music Festival
