By: Mo Senne (Senior Communications Officer)
The historic Cape Town City Hall became the epicentre of choral innovation as the Choral Celebration Network Foundation (CCNF) hosted its annual Mzansi Conductors Convention. This flagship initiative brought together a prestigious assembly of South African and international conductors, composers, and ensembles for a weekend dedicated to artistic exchange and professional development.
The convention, themed “Innovating for Growth,” challenged participants to rethink traditional choral practices and seek creative strategies to expand the impact of the art form within both professional and community spaces.
The highlight of the convention’s opening ceremony on Friday, 13 March, was a performance of global significance. In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Rhodes University Chamber Choir (RUCC) joined forces with the Voces Libres Chamber Choir (Gauteng) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal Choir to present Martín Palmeri’s Misa a Buenos Aires (Misatango).
This performance marked a historic moment for the continent, as the celebrated Argentinian work was presented on African soil for the first time.
The production featured an extraordinary lineup of talent:
- Conducting: The ensemble was led by the internationally renowned Saul Zaks.
- Piano: The composer himself, Martín Palmeri, accompanied the choirs.
- Bandoneon: Grammy Award–winning soloist Joaquin Benitez Kitegroski provided the distinctive tango soul of the work.
- Vocals & Instrumentation: Soprano soloist Minette du Toit-Pearce performed alongside the string section of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.
This transition from the concert stage to the graduation hall is a deeply rooted tradition; the RUCC provides the soundtrack to every graduation ceremony at Rhodes University. Their voices are an integral part of the academic rite of passage, leading the congregation in the national anthem, performing celebratory African choral works, and providing the solemnity required for the conferring of degrees. For the choristers—many of whom are final-year students themselves—the Misatango premiere serves as a professional "swan song" before they trade their choir robes for academic gowns to walk across the stage they usually serenade. For the choristers—many of whom are final-year students—the Misatango premiere serves as a "swan song" of professional excellence before they trade their choir robes for academic gowns.
The discipline and precision required for the Cape Town performance mirror the dedication celebrated during graduation week. "Performing alongside highly accomplished professional musicians offered valuable insight into the discipline, precision, and artistic sensitivity required at the highest level of music-making," Sibusiso Njeza, RUCC Conductor, said. This year is especially significant as Rhodes University honours icons of art and justice, including actress Leleti Khumalo, sculptor Maureen Quin, and Advocate Wim Trengove SC, affirming the University’s belief that the arts are central to the ethical life of society.
“For the students of the RUCC”, Njeza highlighted, “the experience represented both an honour and an important milestone, affirming the choir’s growing presence within the broader South African choral landscape,” he concluded.
Rhodes University representatives noted that these opportunities are central to the institution’s vision of holistic student development. By performing on this national platform, the students demonstrated the high calibre of emerging South African musical talent, just as they prepare to join the ranks of Rhodes Alumni.
The RUCC expressed deep gratitude to the CCNF for the invitation, noting that the experience represents an important milestone that affirms the choir’s growing presence within the South African choral landscape.
