The 2026 Endler Concert Series returns for its second season from July to December with a wide-ranging programme of chamber music, choral concerts, orchestral performances, jazz, music competitions and visiting artists at the Endler Hall and Fismer Hall, Stellenbosch University Konservatorium. Herewith details for the first part of the second season – from July to September.
Season 2 opens on Friday 24 July at 19:00 with Journey of the Soul, an Endler Prestige Concert featuring Féroll-Jon Davids on clarinet, Rosamund Roth on cello and Nina Schumann on piano. Centred on musical storytelling and the mystical elements of fantasy, the programme invites audiences into a sound world of imagination, colour and emotion, with works by Schumann, Muczynski and Brahms. From dreamy introspection and melancholic lyricism to rhythmic vitality, dramatic contrasts and lush harmonies, the recital offers a soulful journey through music’s power to reflect shared human experience.
On Friday 31 July, the Stellenbosch University Chamber Choir presents Voices Without Borders, a gala concert conducted by Lunathi Ncamani and Martin Berger. The programme celebrates the power of choral music to connect cultures, languages and generations, moving from the rich colours of South African choral music to inspiring works from the international repertoire.
August brings further highlights, including Piano², the annual SU / UCT Piano Exchange, on Wednesday 12 August at 19:00 in the Fismer Hall. Following more than two decades of collaboration between the Stellenbosch University Piano Division and the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music, this year’s programme celebrates duets and two-piano works.
On Friday 14 August, the Stellenbosch University Choir, conducted by André van der Merwe, returns to the Endler stage with a programme of exceptional choral artistry. Audiences can look forward to works including “Sicut Anima Mea, Laat die Wind my Neem, Ndikuthandile and Oxamu”, showcasing the choir’s remarkable versatility, technical brilliance and expressive depth.
The Endler Prestige Series continues on Friday 21 August with The Chopin Project II: Complete Chamber Music, pianist José Dias’ exploration of the works of Frédéric Chopin. Joined by Suzanne Martens on violin and Peter Martens on cello, Dias turns the spotlight on Chopin’s complete chamber music output, from early virtuoso works to the masterful “Cello Sonata”, Chopin’s final published composition.
September offers a dynamic mix of orchestral performance, chamber music, competitions and national platforms for young musicians. Highlights include the Stellenbosch University Symphony Orchestra (USSO) on Friday 4 September, conducted by Rik Ghesquière with soloists Luc Ponet and Mario Nell on organ; the Endler Prestige concert To Moer and Gone: Tales from Here, There and Everywhere on Friday 18 September, featuring the NorthSouth Duo with Josie McClure on saxophone and Kaat Vanhaverbeke on accordion; the SU National Ensemble Competition (SUNEC) and Stellenbosch Youth Orchestra Gala Concert on Saturday 19 September; and the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition, which takes place from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 September, concluding with the Gala Concert and Final on Saturday 26 September at 15:00.
Click here for more information on the upcoming Endler Concert Series Season 2 performances.