The South African Strings Foundation (SASF) is presenting the second in-person South African Strings Convention hosted in collaboration with the Odeion String Quartet and the Odeion School of Music (OSM) at the University of the Free State (UFS). The convention that will be taking place from 1 to 4 May, is themed “Synergy of Strings.”
This four-day event promises a vibrant celebration of string music, culture, and community.
The convention will include a diverse programme that includes six concerts, numerous masterclasses, interactive workshops, panel discussions and exhibitions offering a platform for learning, sharing, and collaboration.
One of the highlights of the upcoming convention is the final round of the SASF National String Quartet Competition.
This will be an opportunity to showcase some of the nation’s most talented young performers, as well as the world premiere of the commissioned work for this competition composed by Lise Morrison and Ivan Vukosavljevic.
The string quartets that will perform in the final round is the Ictus Quartet, the Elevator Quartet, Quattro Lumina, the University of Pretoria (UP) String Quartet, and the University of Stellenbosch String Quartet.
The competition will start on 2 May at 09:00 and is open to the public.
Other featured performances include the Juliet String Quartet, East Meets West Ensemble, local group the Odeion String Quartet, and the Gqeberha Trio.
The final gala concert will showcase the world premiere of Franz Joseph Keyper’s “Harp Concerto in G Major,” performed by soloist Marina Solomon and conducted by Leon Bosch.
Tickets are available on quicket.co.za.
The six concert programmes are titled Serenade, Symbiosis, Synthesis, Synchronicity, Synergy, and Soundscapes of Tomorrow.
Exhibitions will spotlight the string lutherie craftsmanship of Albertus Bekker, alongside a compelling string quartet-themed art exhibition curated by second-year UFS art students.
This will be an illustration of how the different forms of art can work in unison, thereby enhancing the desired effect.
Founded in 2020, the SASF is a non-profit organisation (NPO) committed to promoting orchestral, jazz, contemporary, and indigenous plucked and bowed string instruments within Southern Africa.
The SASF serves as a vital platform for string performers, pedagogues, students, composers, researchers, and luthiers to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate.
Notable past initiatives include the inaugural South African Strings Competition in 2021, where the first prize – a custom-built viola by South African luthier Albertus Bekker, was awarded to violist Lynn Daphne Rudolph.
This event was followed by the first in-person 2023 SA Strings Convention hosted in collaboration with the Music Department of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
As a result of the convention, the inaugural SASF composers’ competition was launched. The competition gave five South African composers the opportunity to create new works incorporating indigenous African instruments, forming a valuable addition to the South African string repertoire.
The composers also had the opportunity to workshop their pieces with the performers during the week of the competition and received a professional recording after the final concert.
