UJ goes classical

AUCKLAND PARK – Classical music comes alive at the UJ classical music programme.

Nicholas Nicolaidis to perform at the UJ Kingsway classical music programme. Photo supplied.

UJ Arts and Culture is taking advantage of its world-class theatre facilities and concert Steinway piano at its Arts Centre at the Kingsway campus to relaunch its classical music programme.

The planned series of classical concerts will feature leading classical musicians from Johannesburg and beyond, as well as the university’s award-winning choirs, and

the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra.

Commenting on this three-pronged approach, UJ Arts producer Grace Meadows said, “We are delighted to announce a greatly expanded programme of classical music for the coming year.”

The UJ Choir is based on UJ’s Kingsway Campus, and the Unijoh Choral is based in the UJ Soweto Campus. Together they represent the diversity of the City of Gold, performing a fine Western repertoire, as well as full-blooded African music. The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) officially took up residence on the UJ Bunting Road campus last year and will be reprising its series of concerts.

“We are thrilled to now be in the position to add to this by reintroducing a robust programme of professional classical concerts, featuring industry stalwarts such as Richard Cock, Nicholas Nicolaidis, Malcolm Nay, the Umoya Wind Quintet and the Resonance String Quartet,” said Meadows. Adding to that, she said that the season will culminate with the all-new Dean’s Gala Concert in November.

The full classical music programme at UJ for 2016 is as follows: