Unplugged Live Concerts – and Louise Howlett’s news highlights that music in Cape Town is oveflowing – so grab your diaries for all these March dates!
Highlights include the return of Mzanzi Choral Conductors Festival at the CTICC, lunch concerts at St George’s Cathedral, a full ballet season at Artscape and of course Starlight Classics at Vergelegen with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
TUESDAY 4 MARCH: CAPE TOWN CONCERT BRASS
Cape Town Concert Brass is a 35 piece community brass and percussion ensemble which has been performing for the past 25 years. The band is directed by South African College of Music percussion lecturer Frank Mallows. The programme for this concert at the Baxter Concert Hall incorporates a range of musical styles from the typical brass fanfare, light classical music, film music, to swinging big band jazz.
WHEN & WHERE: The concert takes place at 7pm in the Baxter Concert Hall, Rondebosch | TICKETS: Webtickets
4 – 27 MARCH: ST GEORGE’S UNPLUGGED
St Georges Unplugged is a regular series of ‘walk-in’ lunch concerts every Tuesday and Thursday through to 27 March, offering a variety of classical music in an informal and friendly way. They are introduced by the musicians, and patrons are invited to sit, unwind, ‘unplug’ and contemplate through music in the iconic surroundings of St Georges Cathedral in the heart of the City.
Tuesday Mar 4: Sacred Songs: Cello & Organ with Rosamund Roth and Shannon Thebus
Thursday Mar 6: Solo Flute with Liesl Stoltz from Bach to Bozza
Tuesday Mar 11: Reflections: A Bridge across time with Ralitza Macheva – Baroque violin & Baroque cello – Matthias Remley-Ender
Thursday Mar 13: Colours of the Clarinet with Annelize de Villiers and David Lubbe
Tuesday Mar 18: Flute & Friends with Louisa Theart & Lungiswa Plaatijies
Thursday Mar 20: Organ Recital – A Feast for the Senses – 100% Organ-ic!’ with John Woodland
Tuesday Mar 25: Classical Guitar Collective featuring students of James Grace
Thursday Mar 27: Marcelle Steinmetz & the Humming Birds
The concerts start at 1.15pm in St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town
Concerts are free of charge as the Cathedral remains an open space for all, but donations online and at the door are welcome to help cover running costs and also fundraise for the Cathedral’s much needed building repairs and maintenance.
Facility for credit card and cash will be available.
For full details of artists peforming, and to make a donation, visit Quicket
WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH: ODWA BONGO
Odwa Bongo is a South African musician, vocalist, and cultural advocate dedicated to preserving and elevating indigenous music. Rooted in isiXhosa traditions, he specialises in the uHadi Bow, blending its rich, spiritual sounds with contemporary influences, and his music blends the rich, meditative tones of the uHadi Bow with contemporary sounds, creating a bridge between tradition and modernity. Through evocative storytelling, layered harmonies, and rhythmic instrumentation, he transports listeners into the heart of isiXhosa musical heritage.
WHEN & WHERE: The concert takes place at 6pm at Cafe Roux, Noordhoek | TICKETS: Quicket
FRIDAY 7 MARCH: SEASONS OF LIFE – Works for Soprano, Clarinet and Piano
With Janel Speelman (soprano), Annamarie Bam (clarinet) and Albie van Schalkwyk (piano).
Janel Speelman (soprano), Annamarie Bam (clarinet) and Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)
The title Seasons of Life indicates the physical and emotional ranges of a programme that also covers an interesting range of styles. Between the main works for soprano, clarinet and piano (Spohr Deutsche Lieder, Schubert’s Der Hirt auf fem Felsen and the rarely heard Songs of Innocence by Arnold Cooke) you can hear shorter pieces for just voice and piano by Maurice Ravel and Amy Beach as well as two jazz-inspired Pocket Sonatas for Clarinet and Piano by Alec Templeton.
WHEN ^|& WHERE: The concert takes place at 7pm at the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch | TICKETS: Webtickets
FROM 7 MARCH: CAPE TOWN OPERA SHORTS
Opera SHORTS
Cape Town Opera presents the second edition of Shorts: A Festival of Short Operas! Featuring four captivating, bite-sized operas, each under an hour in length, including one collaboration with Opera UCT, plus two special workshops—one showcasing a new opera and the other introducing newly written South African libretti.
Set in the Wave Theatre in the city centre, the festival promises audiences a refreshing experience with music that’s rarely, if ever, been heard in South Africa tackling issues that affect everyone. Located near the trendy restaurants and bars of Bree Street, it’s the perfect spot for a full night out before or after the show. Enjoy performances by Cape Town favourites William Berger and Siphamandla Moyake, joined by Cape Town Opera House Soloists and Young Artists, and the future stars from Opera UCT. Musical direction by Jan Hugo, Jeremy Silver and José Dias, along with direction from Jackï Job, Fred Abrahamse, Marcel Meyer, Christine Crouse and Victoria Stevens.
WHEN & WHERE: The operas all take place at the wave theatre | TICKETS: Webtickets
FROM 8 – 16 MARCH: GISELLE
Giselle is a classical ballet that tells the poignant story of a young peasant girl, Giselle, who falls in love with a nobleman, Albrecht, who disguises his true identity. When Giselle discovers his deception and learns of his engagement to another, she is heartbroken and dies from grief. In the second act, Giselle returns as a Wili, a spirit of women who died before their wedding. She encounters Albrecht, who mourns her loss, and despite Wili’s intent to lead him to his death, Giselle’s love ultimately saves him. The ballet explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption through its haunting choreography and music.
There will be 5 performances in collaboration with UCT Symphony Orchestra, led by Brandon Phillips, on dates: 8 March @ 19h30, 14 March @ 19h30, 15 March at 14h30, 15 March at 19h30 and 16 March at 14h30 There will be 2 performances with recorded music, dates: 9 March at 14h30, and 12 March at 19h30
INFO & TICJETS: Webtickets
WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH: LENT CONCERT FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT – Sacred Baroque Music
The Cape Consort, directed by Hans Huyssen, presents a Lent Concert at the St. Martini church.
Renowned German sopranist Philipp Mathmann joins soprano Antoinette Huyssen in a programme of Sacred Baroque Music including works by Strozzi, Schütz, Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Händel and Bach.
The concert forms part of the Music @ St Martini series, which aims to establish the historic St. Martini Church as a regular venue for the performance of a diversity of sacred music.
WHEN & WHERE: The concert starts at 7pm at St Martini Church, Long Street. | INFO & TICKETS: Quicket
13 – 15 MARCH: DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR
Experience the magic of the Drakensberg Boys Choir as they embark on their 2025 National Tour. This year’s tour, “Drakies on Tour – Hello, South Africa!” brings a breathtaking blend of classic choral masterpieces, Afro-Pop energy, and South African favourites to venues across the country.
Prepare to be moved, inspired, and uplifted by the power of young voices in perfect harmony. Each performance is a celebration of music, talent, and the spirit of South Africa.
WHERE & WHEN: Stellenbosch Moederkerk 13 Mar 2025 19:00 | Cape Town, Rustenburg Girls’ High School 14 Mar 2025 18:00 | Cape Town, Silvertown Auditorium 15 Mar 2025 17:00 | INFO * TICKETS: Webtickets
14 – 16 MARCH: MZANZI CONDUCTORS CONVENTION
The Mzanzi Conductors Convention focuses on choral music with workshops, talks and concerts including 18 Presentation Sessions with national and international presenters speaking about all things choral – with the theme: “Building Bridges Not Walls.”
WHEN & WHERE: The closing concert takes place on Sunday 16th at 12.30 in the CTICC | INFO & TICKETS: Visit
THURSDAY 20 MARCH: CHAD HENDRICKS CONDUCTS USSO
Chad Hendrick
The Stellenbosch University Symphony Orchestra (USSO) returns to the Endler Hall with a dynamic programme under the baton of guest conductor Chad Hendricks, who was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in 2023 and took up the role of Resident Conductor of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2024. The concert features Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 with acclaimed pianist Pieter Grobler as soloist, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 “Italian.”
Don’t miss this exciting showcase of youthful talent and orchestral excellence!
WHEN & WHERE: The concert takes place at 7pm in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch : TICKETS: Webtickets
TUESDAY 25 MARCH: FOCTO BURSARY COMPETITION
Opera UCT and the Friends of Opera in Cape Town (FoCTO) present the finals of the annual FoCTO Bursary Competition for young South African singers. The FoCTO bursary was established in 2018, under the leadership of the late George Stevens. The Friends of Opera in Cape Town continue to offer financial support for talented young singers, both while at Opera UCT and as they venture onto the next step of their careers, very often overseas.
The concert takes place at 7pm in the Baxter Concert Hall
Tickets from Webtickets
WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH: ETERNITY IN AN HOUR WITH VOX
Submerge yourself in a soundbath of the sublime…
Vox Cape Town presents its next musical journey following the arc of the Requiem Mass, tracing a path from lamentation to light during this customarily ascetic season of the church calendar. They encompass the Venetian polyphony of Lotti’s Crucifixus, the passionate transcendence of Arvo Pärt’s Beatitudes, the visionary poetry of William Blake as interpreted by John Tavener, and a quartet of contemporary composers from the British Isles (Britten, Howells, Tippett and Rutter). The concert also features guest Niel Robertson on organ.
“Escape the ‘Mad Rush’ of the mid-week by drinking deeply from our sonic oasis as we present another immersive musical encounter to mark a decade of VOX.”
WHEN & WHERE: The concert takes place at 7pm at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, De Waterkant | TICKETS: Quicket
WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH: CHOPIN @HUGO LAMBRECHTS – Gustavo Romero
Renowned Mexican pianist Gustavo Romero brings an all Chopin programme to Hugo Lambrechts for one night only These concerts follow the success of previous performances of All Beethoven, Schubert and Rachmaninoff
WHEN & WHERE: The concerts start at 7pm in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium | TICKETS: Quicket
PLUG in to the Unplugged Live Concerts!
WHAT: Unplugged Live Concerts – Louise Howlett
WHERE: Cape Town & surrounds
WHEN: March 2025
TICKETS & BOOKING: see above:
INFO: Louise Howlett E info@ctconcerts.co.za | On the jazz front – as always, click here for the comprehensive: Jazz Gig Guide.| And you can rely on Fine Music Radio to keep the music flowing. Don’t forget to tune into FMR 101.3fm each morning at 8.30am for more calendar updates. Their easy to download app means you can tune in from anywhere, along with streaming through fmr.co.za and Dstv 838.
