Student Participants can now enter for the 20th Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival
The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) was first held in 2004 and is the brainchild of its Artistic Director, Nina Schumann. It has taken place each year (the two empty Covid years notwithstanding) in the month of July every year since. Attracting around 300 students annually, it is the only festival of its kind in all of Africa. Last year’s SICMF saw the star-studded faculty of internationally acclaimed artists representing 17 different countries!
Prof. Schumann is already hard at work compiling the faculty and concert programmes for the 20th SICMF that will take place from 4 to 13 July 2025. Festival Director, Peter Martens, has also been with the SICMF since its inception. He says, “Whilst we may see some great new artists on the bill, the faculty will primarily comprise artists who have made meaningful contributions to the SICMF over the last 20 years.”
Given that the 20th SICMF is no doubt going to be an awesome event, students are advised to submit their entries early. Entries are now open with an early bird special valid until 14 February 2025. Prospective student participants can enter at https://www.sicmf.co.za/online-entry/
Martens says “We are very proud of the positive contribution we are making to transformation at Stellenbosch University. We have come a long way in the last 20 years. For the last two years, most of our student participants came from the previously disadvantaged communities. In 2025 we will set aside over half a million rands for bursaries.” Bursaries will be awarded on financial need regardless of the level of the student, provided a minimum level of proficiency is met. Martens adds that “bursaries are also awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis, so needy students are advised to enter early.”
Concert details will be released in the new year. In the meantime, patrons are advised to keep an eye on the website www.sicmf.co.za which will be updated periodically.
Studentedeelnemers kan nou registreer vir die 20ste Stellenbosch Internasionale Kamermusiekfees
Die Stellenbosch Internasionale Kamermusiekfees (SIKMF) het in 2004 tot stand gekom en is die geesteskind van prof. Nina Schumann, wat as Artistieke Direkteur van die fees optree. Behalwe vir die twee Covid-jare het die fees sedertdien elke jaar in Julie plaasgevind. Dit is die enigste fees van sy soort in Afrika en trek jaarliks omtrent 300 studente. Die internasionaal bekende kunstenaars wat verlede jaar by die fees opgetree het was afkomstig van sewentien verskillende lande!
Prof. Schumann is reeds hard aan die werk om die verskillende konsertprogramme vir die 20ste SIKMF op te stel, wat van 4 tot 13 Julie 2025 sal plaasvind. Die Feesdirekteur, Peter Martens, wat ook van die begin af by die reëling van die fees betrokke was, sê: “Terwyl daar ’n aantal uitstaande nuwe kunstenaars op die program sal wees, sal die personeel hierdie keer hoofsaaklik uit kunstenaars bestaan wat oor die afgelope twintig jaar reeds belangrike bydraes tot die fees gemaak het.“
Aangesien die 20ste SIKMF sonder twyfel weer ’n hoogtepunt sal wees word studente aangeraai om vroeg aan te meld. Registrasie is nou oop en deelnemers wat teen 14 Februarie aansoek doen kom vir ’n aansienlike afslag in aanmerking. Voornemende studente kan aanmeld by https://www.sicmf.co.za/online-entry/
Martens sê: “Ons is baie trots op die bydrae wat ons tot transformasie by die Universiteit Stellenbosch maak. Ons het oor die laaste twintig jaar ’n vêr pad gestap. In die laaste twee jaar was die meeste van ons studente van voorheen benadeelde gemeenskappe. In 2025 sal ons meer as ’n halfmiljoen Rand vir beurse beskikbaar stel.” Beurse sal opgrond van finansiële behoeftigheid toegeken word ongeag die vaardigheidsvlak van die student, op voorwaarde dat ’n minimum vlak reeds bereik is. Martens voeg by dat “beurse toegeken word in volgorde van aanvraag, daarom word behoeftige studente aangeraai om vroeg aan te meld.“
Besonderhede oor die konserte word in 2025 bekend gemaak. Intussen word konsertbesoekers aangeraai om die webwerf www.sicmf.co.za dop te hou. Dit sal gereëld opgedateer word.