Seatavern

HearUS is an initiative aligned with the Stellenbosch University Cochlear Implant Unit, which provides financial support to those with serious hearing challenges, hailing from financially compromised backgrounds, to obtain and maintain cochlear implants and assists in realising their full potential in the ‘world of hearing’. The Heydeburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Heydenrych, will be headlining this performance along with various celebrated soloists, including José Dias ( piano ), Alida Scheepers ( coloratura ), Mario Nell ( organ ), Dumisa Masoka ( tenor) , Etienne van der Walt ( tenor ) and Chris van Straten ( clarinet ) in a programme featuring exceptional works from the classical repertoire.

This year, a new collaboration between the Hear Us NGO and Melles Classical Music Foundation, based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, will come into fruition when José Dias performs a Concertino with orchestra, composed by Dutch composer, Dr Gerrit Melles, a world famous corneal surgeon and researcher, with long-time interest in, and love of music.

The Stellenbosch Youth Orchestra, revived for the first Hear US concert in 2023, an orchestral training programme under the guidance of Reghardt Kühn, providing secondary school learners with the opportunity to participate in large musical ensemble performance, bolstering their musical literacy skills and providing invaluable vocational training, will again provide a curtain- raiser performance at this celebratory event.

Special features by Bianca Naude, Lister Maramba, Kate Allwood and Christopher Silence - all cochlear implant recipients - will be included in this wonderful program.

A temporary loop system will be installed for the evening, in rows F to Q, to make it accessible for people with hearing aids and cochlear implantations. Please look out for the universal hearing impaired sign on the seating arrangements when making your booking.