Homegrown: A Tribute to South African Song - STELLENBOSCH

Join committee members Paulina Malefane (soprano), Minette du Toit-Pearce (mezzosoprano), and Esthea Kruger (piano) in a tribute to the rich and diverse heritage of South African song. This vibrant programme celebrates the music of renowned South African composers such as Njeza, Mbali, and Klatzow, and also includes the premiere of a song cycle by Hendrik Hofmeyr on poems by Breyten Breytenbach. Featuring songs in Xhosa, Zulu, English, and Afrikaans, the performance offers a kaleidoscopic journey through the beauty of South African musical traditions. A string quartet, comprising talented young musicians who are either current students or recent graduates of the University of Cape Town, will also be heard in selected songs.

As part of an exciting new initiative “Bring a buddy, win a box” every audience member who brings a friend to the concert will be entered into a lucky draw to win a box of La Motte wine.

About the artists:

Paulina Malefane is an acclaimed Cape Town-born opera singer, co-founder and co-Music Director of the award-winning Isango Ensemble. She gained international recognition for her lead role in U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, winning global praise and a Golden Thumb from Roger Ebert. She has performed with top orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle, and at venues such as the BBC Proms and Shakespeare’s Globe. Her role in The Cunning Little Vixen earned her a Grammy nomination. A celebrated performer and creator, Paulina lectures in vocal studies at the South African College of Music.

Minette du Toit-Pearce is a South African mezzo-soprano and Senior Lecturer in Singing at Stellenbosch University, where she leads the Singing Division. She earned her BMus, BMus (Hons), and MMus (cum laude) degrees under Dr. Magdalena Oosthuizen and completed UNISA’s Teacher’s and Performance Licentiates with distinction. A seasoned soloist, she has appeared with all major South African orchestras and internationally, including a 2018 debut with the Minnesota Orchestra. In 2022, she performed at the Neues Lied Festival in Würzburg, Germany. Most recently, she sang the role of Principessa in Suor Angelica for Cape Town Opera, earning a Fleur du Cap nomination. Minette has also released a CD, Nagmusiek, featuring South African composers. Recognized with four Kyknet Fiësta nominations and two WoordTROfees, she is a frequent adjudicator across Southern Africa and is pursuing her PhD in Music.

Esthea Kruger is a pianist and lecturer at the South African College of Music. She holds performance degrees from Stellenbosch University, the University of North Texas (DMA), and the Hochschule für Musik Würzburg, as well as a master’s in Liedgestaltung from Prof. Gerold Huber. A prizewinner in major South African competitions, she was the first music student to receive Stellenbosch University’s Chancellor’s Medal. Kruger founded Neues Lied, a contemporary art song festival in Germany (2018) and Cape Town (2022), awarded Würzburg’s Culture Prize in 2020. She is also the artistic director of The Songmakers’ Guild.