HearUs - Celebratory concert 2026

HearUs NGO, established 25 years ago by Daneel and Santie van der Walt and Fanie de Villiers, is an initiative aligned with the Stellenbosch University Cochlear Implant Unit. The organisation provides financial support to individuals with significant hearing loss from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to obtain and maintain cochlear implants and realise their full potential in the world of hearing.

The Heydeburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted this year by Leonard Heydenrych and Stuart Martin, will headline this special performance alongside an outstanding line-up of celebrated soloists, including Piet de Beer (violin), José Dias (piano), Lauren Dasappa (soprano), Mario Nell (organ), Thandolwethu Longo (tenor), Iman Bulbulia (piano), Etienne van der Walt (tenor), and Leonard Heydenrych (flute). The programme features beloved masterpieces from the classical repertoire, including "Nessun dorma" from the opera Turandot (Puccini), “Song to the moon” from Rusalka (Dvorák), “Spring” from the Four Seasons (Vivaldi) and the “Triumphant March” from the opera Aida (Verdi) together with specially arranged crossover works by Richard Campbell, including “Barcelona” and theme song from “The Godfather”.

This year, HearUs NGO and the Heydeburg Orchestra, in association with Dare4Life NGO—a holistic wellbeing movement supporting individuals facing illness and major life transitions—are delighted to welcome Mia le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024, to the stage. Mia received a cochlear implant at the age of one and embodies the life-changing impact of hearing restoration.

The concert also celebrates two remarkable milestones: the 25th anniversary of HearUs NGO and the 40th anniversary of the first cochlear implantation performed in South Africa. This pioneering procedure was carried out on 4 November 1986 at Tygerberg Hospital by Dr Derrick Wagenfeld (ENT surgeon), Lida Müller (audiologist), and their Stellenbosch University team. On 29 September 2023, Tygerberg Hospital celebrated its 1,000th cochlear implant recipient, and to date more than 1,020 patients have received cochlear implants through this programme.

The Stellenbosch Youth Orchestra, revived for the inaugural HearUs Concert in 2023, is an orchestral training programme under the guidance of Reghardt Kühn and Stuart Martin. It offers secondary school learners the opportunity to participate in large-scale orchestral performance, strengthening their musical literacy while providing invaluable vocational experience. The orchestra will once again present the curtain-raiser performance for this celebratory event.

Special guest performance by Kate Allwood and other cochlear implant recipients, will add to this memorable programme.

To ensure accessibility, a temporary induction loop system will be available for the evening in Rows F to Q. Guests who use hearing aids or cochlear implants are encouraged to look for the international hearing assistance symbol when selecting their seats.