Saint Cecilia Sing-Along Festival

The newly founded choir school in Stellenbosch, the Cape Choral Academy (CCA), is hosting a festival of sacred music during the last weekend of November. The name of the festival comes from Saint Cecilia, who is the patron saint of music and musicians. Saint Cecilia Day is celebrated worldwide on 22 November, and feasts associated with her are usually held around that time. Many poets and composers have been inspired by her life, with the earliest music dedicated to her dating from the fourth century.

On Friday, 24 November, a Saint Cecilia Sing-Along will be held in the Stellenbosch - Welgelegen Dutch Reformed Church from 18h30. Xander Kritzinger, the well known singer, choral conductor, and founder of the Cape Choral Academy, will host and conduct an evening of beautiful church music. Members of the public is invited to take part in a mass amateur choir, while non-singing individuals can enjoy the performance from the audience.

Music from many traditions will be sung, from Taize chants to well-loved hymns in Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa, and isiZulu. Anyone with a love for choral singing can take part in the event and can register via the Google Form or applicable QR code. Those preferring to support the first concert of the Saint Cecilia Festival can buy a ticket through Quicket.