The 21st Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) came to a triumphant close on Saturday 11 July, with a powerful performance of Mahler’s First Symphony, “The Titan”.

A sustained standing ovation from both the audience and performers captured the delight and fulfilment of an intense 10-day programme featuring 20 student concerts, seven faculty concerts, five orchestral concerts, public master classes, lectures and more.

For the nearly 300 student participants, the festival was an experience marked by deep musical collaboration and unexpected friendships.

As the event drew to a close, many were moved to tears – some from joy and gratitude, others from the sadness of saying goodbye to friends they had made along the way.

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Music spectacular

Choosing highlights from this year’s festival is no easy task, given the exceptional standard of so many performances.

Daniel Rowland brought sensuality and warmth to Philip Glass’s “The American Four Seasons”, while Miclen LaiPang and Emanuil Ivanov delivered a vibrant and technically dazzling performance of Mendelssohn’s concerto.

South African composer Owen Dalton’s world premiere, A Tough Tale, set texts by Tereska Muishond, Antjie Krog and Mongane Wally Serote, offering a moving and powerful reflection on the past, narrated with sensitivity by Muishond herself.

Jörg Widmann’s Beethoven study for string quartet provided a compelling meeting point between tradition and modernity, and formed part of the festival’s 10 South African premieres.

Lasting legacy

Another significant development was the launch of the new Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Performing adventurous repertoire to an exceptionally high standard, the ensemble was conducted by local maestro Liam Burden.

The Festival Concert Orchestra (FCO) played to a sold-out Endler Hall on 11 July, before taking the programme to Franschhoek’s Groendal Community Hall on Sunday 12 July.

Each year, SICMF partners with the e’Bosch Heritage Project to bring one of the FCO’s concerts to a local community. The free Franschhoek performance attracted a strong audience.

After an exhausting and rewarding festival, the performers and management team have certainly earned a short rest. However, preparations for the next event will begin before the end of July.

The SICMF will return from 2 to 11 July 2027 for another celebration of chamber music.

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