Friday 10 May 2024, 19:00, Moravian Church, Greyton, R180
In this delightful production, the audience will be treated with songs showcasing the diverse talent of the singers and instrumentalists. Classics for All favourite Zanne Stapelberg de Lange teams up with a superb up and coming tenor, Jason September who already established himself as a lieder and opera singer. Philippus Hugo has compiled and will produce a programme which will take the audience “over the rainbow, way up high…”, with music ranging from Baroque to contemporary. The soloists will be accompanied by Philippus (piano), Suretha Theron (clarinet) and Ethan Lawson (cello).
Biographies
Jason September
Jason September is a 23-year-old tenor currently pursuing his BMus Hons at Stellenbosch University. Under the guidance of his vocal lecturer, Minette Du Toit-Pearce, Jason has achieved great success during his undergraduate studies at Stellenbosch University. In his first year of studies, Jason was the recipient of the Graham Beck Bursary and won the Vocal section of the Mabel Quick bursary competition (2020).
His academic achievements resulted in him being invited to be a member of the Golden Key Society for Academic Excellence. In 2019 he was privileged to be selected to sing in the prestigious New Apostolic Church Cape Town Choir. He appeared on the same bill as world-renowned singer Andrea Bocelli for his performance at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl. In 2021, Jason formed part of a production where he sang Basilio’s aria from Le nozze di Figaro and a variety of chorus works from well-known Mozart operas including: Die Zauberflöte and Die Entführung aus dem Serail in the Stellenbosch University Vocal Ensemble’s “Finally Mozart concert”. All these experiences led to his successful performance as a soloist with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at Artscape Theatre for the 51st annual Western Cape Youth Classical Concert.
Jason obtained his Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Practical Music Studies at the University of Stellenbosch at the end of 2022 and 2023. In 2023 Jason was part of the annual Stellenbosch University Opera UCT collaboration, singing Wenn ich ein fӧglein wӓr from Schumann’s opera Genoveva. In September 2023 Jason was asked to join UCT’s production of Tales of Hoffmann as a chorus member. Jason was also a finalist in the Mable Quick International Competition (September 2023) and the Human-Naude Bursary Competition (December 2023).
Philipus Hugo
Philippus Hugo obtained the degrees BMus, BMus(hons) and MMus (Cum Laude) in piano performing from the University of Stellenbosch under the guidance of Juliana de Villiers. He makes his solo debut with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 16. During his student years, he regularly performs as soloist with the CTPO, Natal Philharmonic, Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra and the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra. In 1992 he was appointed the post as official accompanist at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, a post he held for five years before accepting a teaching post at Rustenburg Girls school.
From 1994 until 2010 he was the official accompanist for the ABSA National music competition in Port Elizabeth and performed as accompanist for the SANLAM music competition in Cape Town. He is a regular accompanist for the ATKV Musique, Artscape Competition, UNISA gr8 and Overseas Bursary Competition as well as freelance accompanist for national arts festivals like the KKNK, KKK, Vryfees, Hermanus FineArts Festival, Darling Voorkamerfest and the Greyton Genadendal Classics for All Festival.
In 2011 he was asked to perform with the American singers Kennethia Mitchell and Lawrence Craig Jr at the annual Maputo International Music Festival. He performed again in 2014, 2016 and 2017 as accompanist at the Maputo International Music Festival. From 2012 until 2016 he was the official accompanist for the Muziquante Competition. He is also the producer, accompanist and programme arranger for the prize winners of the ATKV competition’s country tours. His production of the opening concert at the Klein Karoo Klassiek festival in Oudtshoorn in 2013, was nominated for a Fiesta Award for best classical concert at a national festival. He regularly is appointed as adjudicator for various eisteddfods in South Africa. In 2012 he was a guest artist at the Harare Music Festival in Zimbabwe. In 2014 he is appointed as a member of the board of examiners for UNISA. Since 2000 he is one of the official accompanists at the Conserve, University of Stellenbosch and he specialises in working with singers. In 2019 he was on the panel of adjudicators for the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition. Philippus is also a chef and he and his partner run the well-known Driefontein Farm Restaurant and 254 Catering, in the Overberg.
Since its inception 20 years ago, Philippus has directed various productions of the Greyton Genadendal Classics for All Festival.
Ethan Lawson
Ethan Lawson (23) started cello when he was 8 years old. He has been the principal cellist of many orchestras, namely the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra. He is currently an ad hoc member of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ethan has won many prestigious competitions and awards, most recent being the Mabel Quick Overseas Bursary, Cello Prize, and Instrumental Prize. He has been selected as a soloist in many concerto festivals, including the Hugo Lambrechts Concerto Festival, CPO Youth Music Festival, and USSO Concerto Festival. Ethan is currently doing his MMus in Cello Performance at Stellenbosch University with Dr Peter Martens. In his free time, Ethan works as a session musician and enjoys songwriting, singing, playing electric guitar, piano, bass, and drums. He is currently recording his own alternative rock album.
Suretha Theron
Suretha Theron’s love for the clarinet was ignited when she was first introduced to it as a grade 8 learner at Durbanville High School. Suretha went on to study music at the University of Stellenbosch under Jimmy Reinders and completed her Master’s Degree Cum Laude in Clarinet Performance in 2010. Since then, Suretha has performed as an ad hoc clarinetist in several orchestras around South Africa including the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. She considers ensemble playing her first love and performs regularly in a variety of ensembles.
Suretha’s passion and enthusiasm for music and music education is visible in her work with the Durbanville High School Wind Band with which she has been for over 20 years. Under her baton, this orchestra has won several competitions and Eisteddfods which include the Cape Town Eisteddfod, Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod, Tygerberg Eisteddfod, the Empangeni National Orchestra Festival as well as the ensemble category in the South African Orchestra Championships. Suretha aims to provide a sociable environment for learners where they can not only learn music, but also valuable attributes such as teamwork, team spirit, discipline and self-esteem. She is also actively involved in community music and regularly adjudicates community competitions and Eisteddfods. She prides herself in making music accessible and enjoyable to as many people as possible.
Zanne Stapelberg
Zanne Stapelberg graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Stellenbosch with a BA Mus degree and a Higher Licentiate in Musical Performance. Her voice teacher and mentor is prof. Magdalena Oosthuizen. After her studies she joined the Cape Town Opera Studio. Opera roles include, Angelica in Puccini’s Sour Angelica, Mimi in La Boheme, Alice in Verdi’s opera Falstaff, Ilia in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rosalinda in Straus’s Die Fledermaus and Micaela in Bizets Carmen. Oratorio roles include Verdi’s Requiem, Dvorák Requiem, Mozart Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.
At university Zanne specialized in Art song. Over the past 23 years, she has performed across South Africa and Europe in programmes featuring works such as Frauenliebe und leben by R. Schumann, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Ravel’s Chanson Madecasses and Sheherazade, Les Nuits d’été by H. Berlioz , Fête Galantes by Debussy, Vier Weemoedige Liedjies by Arnold van Wyk, Die Stil Avontuur, Tre Liriche in Stile Anticho and the Death of Cleopatra by Hendrik Hofmeyr and Siete Canciones Populares Españolas by M. de Falla and 12 Tonadillas al estilo Antiguo by Enrique Granados.
Zanne received the coveted Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Classical Music.
She is the recipient of the KANNA Award for best classical production at the 2014 KKNK with the Odeion String Quartet. She also received a Woordfees Award for the production Zoid, Zanne, Zolani alongside Karen Zoid and Zolani Mahola. Zanne is a versatile artist and has the ability to perform in various genres. She did a Cabaret Programme for the Songmakers Guild with Albie van Schalkwyk. Her production, Secret Songs, featured popular songs translated into a classical style. Her Afrikaans Cabaret Spieël/Speel, co-written with Kathleen Tagg featured musicians from the world of jazz, blues, African and classical music. She has been nominated for a SAMA award along with Kathleen Tagg for their album, SOUL OF FIRE, of which the stage production was reviewed as “one of the most remarkable musical productions yet to have emerged from South Africa…” Music from this album is also featured in Deon Meyer’s movie, Die Laaste Tango. Zanne was chosen by lnsig Magazine as the Top Theatre Attraction in South Africa.
She received the Best Young Opera Singer Award from the Friends of Cape Town Opera and the Cosmopolitan Awesome Woman Award for her work as opera singer and producer. With a full sponsorship from Standard Bank, she recorded her album OPERA GALA- LIVE IN CONCERT with the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra.
