The milestones of the 25th anniversary of the non-profit organisation HearUs and the 40th anniversary of the first cochlear implantation performed in South Africa are being celebrated with a concert by the Heydeburg Symphony Orchestra in September in Stellenbosch.

Tickets for this celebratory concert by HearUs, in association with the Heydeburg Symphony Orchestra and Dare4Life, are available on Quicket from Saturday 1 August.

All funds raised will be in aid of HearUs, which was established by Daneel and Santie van der Walt and Fanie de Villiers as an initiative aligned with the Tygerberg Hospital–Stellenbosch University Cochlear Implant Unit.

The organisation provides financial support to individuals with significant hearing loss from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to obtain and maintain cochlear implants and realise their full potential in the world of hearing.

Dare4Life is a holistic well-being movement supporting individuals facing illness and major life transitions.

First cochlear implantation

The first cochlear implantation performed in South Africa was carried out on 4 November 1986 at Tygerberg Hospital by Dr Derrick Wagenfeld (ear, nose and throat surgeon), Lida Müller (audiologist) and their Stellenbosch University team.

On 29 September 2023, Tygerberg Hospital celebrated its 1 000th cochlear implant recipient, and to date more than 1 020 patients have received cochlear implants through this programme.

September is also officially recognised as the International Month for Deaf People in commemoration of the first world congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, held in September 1951.

International Week of the Deaf, which is celebrated from 20 to 26 September, aims to promote social inclusion, advocate for the rights of the deaf community, and celebrate South African Sign Language.

Strengthen musical literacy

The Stellenbosch Youth Orchestra, revived for the inaugural HearUs Concert in 2023, is an orchestral training programme under the guidance of Reghardt Kühn and Stuart Martin.

It offers secondary school learners the opportunity to participate in large-scale orchestral performance, strengthening their musical literacy while providing invaluable vocational experience.

The orchestra will once again present the curtain-raiser performance for this celebratory event.

Special guest performances by Kate Allwood (piano), a cochlear implant recipient, will add to this memorable programme.

Outstanding line-up

The Heydeburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted this year by Leonard Heydenrych and Stuart Martin, will headline this special performance alongside an outstanding line-up of celebrated soloists, including Piet de Beer (violin), José Dias (piano), Lauren Dasappa (soprano), Mario Nell (organ), Thandolwethu Longo (tenor), Iman Bulbulia (piano), Etienne van der Walt (tenor) and Leonard Heydenrych (flute).

The programme features beloved masterpieces from the classical repertoire, together with specially arranged crossover works by Richard Campbell.

Life-changing impact

This year Mia le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024, will be welcomed to the stage. Mia received a cochlear implant at the age of one and embodies the life-changing impact of hearing restoration, says a spokesperson for HearUs.

International Week of the DeafThe concert will be presented on Saturday, 5 September, in the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch.

To ensure accessibility, a temporary induction loop system will be available for the evening in Rows F to Q.

• Guests who use hearing aids or cochlear implants are encouraged to look for the international hearing assistance symbol when selecting their seats.

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