UWC launch the UWC Chamber Music Institute

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) will host masterclasses and workshops with the Arianna String Quartet (ASQ) of the University of Missouri (UM) (St. Louis), culminating in a concert to launch the UWC Chamber Music Institute and the return  of accredited music courses at UWC Centre for the Performing Arts.

The UWC Centre for the Performing Arts’ (CPA) 2012 University of Missouri South Africa Education Projects (UMSAEP) grant application was successful, which sees the ASQ return to UWC and Cape Town in August 2013 to present workshops, master classes and concerts and to launch the Chamber Music Institute and reintroducing music courses at UWC.

The UWC CPA invites solo string players, as well as string quartets/ensembles to participate in the workshops, coaching and masterclasses presented by the ASQ. To book a time slot, please contact the Centre as soon as possible - slots will be arranged on a first come, first serve basis.

The cost for the sessions is R1500, regardless of the amount of sessions booked over the three-week period.

The University of Stellenbosch String Quartet have already joined this initiative and will also be performing in concert with the ASQ at Endler Hall, St. Andrew’s Church in Green Point and UWC Main Hall.

UWC and UM have a 27-year partnership agreement which involves regular exchanges between the two institutions. In 2011, UWC had the privilege of working with the Arianna String Quartet, when they performed at the 25th Anniversary of this partnership.

All students participating in the workshops will have the opportunity to perform with ASQ on 24 August 2013, at the UWC Main Hall as part of a massed string orchestra. UWC’s CPA commissioned a work by Allan Stephenson, the Concerto Grosso No.2 which will be premiered at this concert. This work will feature the Arianna String Quartet as soloists with the massed string orchestra. Other works on the programme will include the Mendelssohn Octet performed by ASQ and the University of Stellenbosch String Quartet.

For the concert, ensembles involved in the workshops will join in two massed rehearsals on Saturday 10 and 17 August to rehearse the massed work, with the final rehearsal on 24 August (time: 19h00 for 19h30 ).

For more information, and to confirm booking arrangements for workshops, masterclasses and coaching sessions - contact Henriette Weber  on 021 959 2320 or via