Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in 2013 as narrator during the festival orchestra perfomance,
Image: Supplied
The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) celebrated two decades of musical excellence with a momentous event on Wednesday. A memorial artwork honouring the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was unveiled at the University of Stellenbosch's Konservatorium, coinciding with a special concert performance.
Renowned artist Gavin Rain created a breathtaking piece composed of 1,098 individual circles, each intricately engraved with messages from the SICMF community. Rain's unique artistry typically involves hues of vibrant colours and concentric circles but for this project, he employed a novel technique entirely unseen in his previous works. The circles are mounted at mathematically calculated angles that allow for light and shadow to converge into a portrait of the beloved Archbishop when viewed from a distance.
Nina Schumann, the Artistic Director of SICMF, spoke about her vision behind the artwork.
“I was thinking about the sense of community that the SICMF has created - how it resonates with so many people in such different ways. I wanted to come up with something that reflected that togetherness, and that could be lasting.”
Schumann’s imaginative concept draws inspiration from the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, prompting the integration of meaningful messages from participants and supporters, creating a distinctive collective memory.
Desmond Tutu's connections with the festival began in 2013 when he narrated a poignant performance of Peter Louis van Dijk’s "Selfish Giant" with the Festival Concert Orchestra. Following this collaboration, he embraced the role of patron, highlighting the festival’s significant impact on nurturing potential in South Africa.
“It gives so much hope for our children… It says wow, we have such fantastic potential. What an amazing country, we have it in us to become.”
The unveiling was celebrated with a free performance of “The Selfish Giant.” The concert featured a full symphony orchestra under the direction of Xandi van Dijk, son of the composer, as well as the Cape Town Opera Children’s chorus, bass/baritone soloist Conroy Scott, and narrator John Woodland.
This grand performance was a cornerstone event for the opening night of the Stellenbosch International Piano Symposium, proudly supported by the Endler Concert Series.
This celebration of community, music, and memory not only reaffirms the SICMF's commitment to fostering artistic collaboration but also sets the stage for the upcoming 21st edition of the festival, scheduled for 3 to 12 July 2026 at the US Konservatorium. The detailed programme will be revealed in early May, promising more enchanting performances to conclude a remarkable 20-year journey.