New music hall for the good of the arts
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits University launches its centenary campaign with the opening of the new state-of-the-art Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall.
Wits launched its centenary campaign with the opening of an ultra-modern music hall, The Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall.
The launch on March 3 featured jazz, classical and contemporary music, including performances by associate Professors Malcolm Nay (pianist), Carlo Mombelli (bass), and lecturer and doctoral candidate Chantal Willie-Petersen (jazz), all in Wits Music in the Wits School of Arts.
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, vice-chancellor and principal of Wits, said, “It is a singular honour for me to be here with all of you as we gather to celebrate 100 years of one of South African history’s true giants – the University of the Witwatersrand – and we’re doing this with the opening this magnificent music hall, set amidst a booming Braamfontein.”
Formerly a patch of ivy-entangled pavement where Joburg’s first gold miners resided, the music hall is said to reflect an innovative transformation into a contemporary and sophisticated space.
Head of the Wits School of Arts Dr René Smith said, “We are delighted to open the Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall as the university launches its centenary campaign and after almost two years of lockdown when the arts have been amongst the hardest hit during the pandemic.”
The establishment of the music hall was enabled by its namesake, businessman and Wits alumnus, Chris Seabrooke. “I’m absolutely delighted with the outcome. I think it’s beautiful, the acoustics are great and I know that a lot of people coming through Wits will get tremendous value from this being in place.”
The Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall is the only purpose-built live music hall with a modern acoustic design in Johannesburg and is designed specifically for musical performances.
While there are said to be several venues in Joburg that can accommodate both staged and musical performances, this music hall is the only space of any size in the City that is exclusively designed to optimise live musical sound with modern acoustic design.
Head of Wits Music Dr Donato Somma concluded, “The music hall features acoustic treatment of the highest quality and is suitable for a range of musical genres – from acoustic music and electrified performances to chamber music and even minimal orchestra.”
