Hello! My name is Mario Nell. I am the Chair of the University of
Stellenbosch Music Department. It is my pleasure to welcome you,
and guide you, in this virtual visit to our wonderful Department.
The home of the Music Department is the iconic Konservatorium building,
located in the centre of Stellenbosch University’s beautiful campus.
The magnificent Endler Hall seats over 500 audience members and it’s brilliant design has led
many artists to refer to it as the best acoustical venue in South Africa, one of true world class.
Besides hosting its own prestigious concert series, the hall is also a preferred venue for
local and international music and soundtrack recordings, radio and television broadcasts
and various other prestigious events. The Hall is also home to the unique
and majestic Marcussen organ – one of the best instruments of its kind in the world.
The Fismer hall is a beloved smaller-sized performance venue, ideally suited to chamber
music and more intimate musical settings. The hall boasts recording studio facilities and a
lighting rig, to facilitate video recording, making it a particularly versatile venue.
The Jannasch hall is an auditorium-style Lecture Hall, ideal for presentations,
large lectures and meetings, and is fully-fitted with multimedia technology.
Linking these spaces,
the Behrens foyer boasts large murals by the late Stellenbosch-based artist, Larry Scully.
Besides many smaller teaching studios and classrooms we have another two other lecture halls.
The Konservatorium building
hosts state-of-the-art recording studios, equipped with the latest technology in the field,
and suitable to professional recording, editing, mixing and film audio work.
Then on the other aisle of the Konservatorium building, you will find three floors
with 57 practice studios, including a fully-fitted percussion studio
and several studios equipped with grand pianos and even pipe organs.
Our in-house Music Library is one of five specialised branches of the Stellenbosch
University Library and Information Service. Besides its large catalogue of sheet music,
sound recordings and books, the library owns a unique collection of musical manuscripts and
other documents, making it a popular hub of research and investigation in South Africa.
The Konservatorium is also the home of the University of Stellenbosch Music Department.
We offer a broad range of pre-undergraduate,
undergraduate and postgraduate degree and diploma programmes.
Besides offering our students world-class tuition in all keyboard, strings, woodwind,
brass and percussion instruments as well as voice and conducting,
within the Western classical music genre, the department is placing increasing emphasis
on the study and performance of indigenous African music, jazz and other popular styles.
Pre-Undergraduate programmes are offered by our Certificate Programme. The Programme aims to
provide formal music education to students who have had little or no access to it,
and who would like to develop their abilities and further their music studies. Many graduates of the
Certificate Programme have forged successful careers in the South African musical scene.
Our various Undergraduate programmes equip our students ideally
to enter the professional world or to further specialise on postgrad level.
The Bachelor of​ Music is a 4-year course, with modules including practical music studies, music
theory, history, aural training, composition and orchestration, ethnomusicology, to name but a few.
The 3-year Bachelor of Arts in Music is designed to give our students the
opportunity to study core music courses alongside liberal arts components,
enabling them to take advantage of a diverse range of areas of study across the faculty.
Our Diploma offering includes a 3-year Diploma
as well as a I-year Advanced Diploma, both specialising in Practical Music Study.
We also offer a 1-year Higher Certificate in Music
which can lead into the mentioned undergraduate programmes.
For more information on entrance and audition requirements,
and further details on our courses, please visit our website.
Our Postgraduate programmes include diplomas, and honours, …
…masters and doctoral degrees. You will also find all the relevant details on our website.
As a student at our Department, you will also have
easy access to some of the best performing arts events in South Africa.
The prestigious Endler Concert Series hosts concerts showcasing diverse musical genres.
Apart from promoting world-class professional performances, the Concert Series also gives
a performance platform to students as part of the Lunch Hour Concerts.
The Stellenbosch University Toyota Woordfees is a vibrant celebration of theatre, music, art, dance,
comedy, discussion and poetry. Its Classical Music Programme is hosted at the Konservatorium in
collaboration with the Concert Series, and boasts an outstanding line up of concerts and productions
with international and local artists in a variety of musical styles and settings.
The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival is a popular yearly event, crammed full
of rehearsals, master classes, coaching sessions and concerts. The Festival offers young students
and school learners the opportunity to study, perform and be inspired through chamber music
and orchestral playing at the highest standard, alongside international professional artists.
The Konservatorium also welcomes several Conferences and Events throughout the year,
covering all possible subjects. In the music field, it regularly hosts events
such as the annual conference of the South African Society for Research in Music
and the Southern African Church and Concert Organists’ Society’s AGM
and Bursary Competition, the Hennie Joubert Piano Competition, the ATKV Music Competitions,
the Stellenbosch University and National Sêr Competitions, to name but a few.
The Music Department also regularly hosts Symposia in the various disciplines of study offered.
Little can match the satisfaction and utter joy of taking part in a stellar
performance with fellow musicians. Our students have regular access to several
ensemble performance opportunities in a wide range of instrumental and vocal combinations.
The University of Stellenbosch Symphonic Wind Ensemble presents a diverse repertoire
of well-known masterworks and contemporary compositions from the standard symphonic
band repertoire. The ensemble maintains a very active performance schedule,
including both on- and off-campus concerts, and proudly accompanies all SU graduation ceremonies.
The University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra is one of the leading youth orchestras
in the country. As members of USSO, our students have first-hand experience
of the core orchestral repertoire in an environment where professionalism and
orchestral collaboration are guided by illustrious guest conductors,
who work intensively with the orchestra in preparation for our public appearances.
The Fiësta-award-winning SU Jazz Band has a busy performance schedule, and focuses
on the traditional and contemporary repertoire for a standard big band. The Jazz Band has already
become noted for its promotion and performance of South African arrangements and compositions,
and is joined regularly by iconic artists such as Sibongile Khumalo, Judith Sephuma,
PJ Powers, Gloria Bosman, Timothy Moloi, and Amanda Strydom, among many others.
The Department hosts several prestigious choral ensembles,
such as the SU Chamber Choir and the Schola Cantorum.
In recent years, SUCC has been invited to tour to International Festivals in China, Hungary and
Germany. Schola Cantorum is the academic chamber choir and resident choir of the Music Department,
serving as a practical instrument for students specialising in choral conducting.
Our African Music Ensemble offers students the opportunity to gain a broader understanding
of traditional and contemporary life in Africa through participation in music, singing and dance.
Students appear alongside guest artists in various performances throughout the year,
gaining hands-on experience with a variety of African instruments and singing practises.
We pride ourselves in helping our students achieve their goals in higher education,
even when financial implications may seem to be an insurmountable obstacle.
We offer several bursaries and scholarships as well as a number of prizes for high achievers.
Please visit our website to find out more about the application process,
as well as details of the financial help available to you.
We have a very strong relationship with the SU International Office, and can guide our
students into a number of semester exchange programmes at prestigious universities abroad.
These deeply enriching experiences often lead our students to undertake
further study at such institutions and proceed into international professional careers.
Your journey into tertiary music study will prepare you for a variety of career opportunities.
Among popular choices among our graduates are
Teaching and Lecturing Performance
Academic Research and Publishing, and Arts administration
Other typical professional routes include Broadcasting,
Law, Arrangement and composition,
Music journalism and criticism, Recording industry,
Radio/TV/Digital media and Civil service
A music degree opens doors to an even wider range of careers
both within and outside the arts, and the overwhelming majority of our graduates go
on to find immediate employment as they complete their courses.
Thank you for joining me on this virtual visit to our Music Department. For more information,
please visit our website at www.sun.ac.za/music
You can also SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel, FOLLOW us on Instagram and LIKE our Facebook page.
Thank you for joining me. We look forward to welcoming you into our musical family!
Thank you, Dankie, Enkosi.