Chamber Music in South Africa
Who are we?
A passion project put together by a group of South African musicians, the Cape Chamber Music Collective (or CCMC for short) was formed to engage with and inspire audience members and musicians alike.
The Collective puts on a number of chamber music projects each year. Each project consists of a diverse programme, including works ranging in scale from duo to chamber orchestra. The musicians (ranging from young students to professionals) rehearse intensively for two to three weeks, after which a number of performances are held at a mix of conventional, quirky, and far-flung venues around the Cape.
We believe in the music that we play, and believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to love it too. We pride ourselves in making sure that our performances are presented in a way that is approachable and informative to all audience members, regardless of their prior experiences with classical music. To help, we will precede each piece by a short explanation or relevant anecdote, explaining what makes each piece special: what makes it tick, and why we want to play it in the first place.
As we dart between telling musical tales in venues new and old, we invite you to get to know the musicians and understand the repertoire. Take in our specially tailored introductions; have a chat over a glass of wine after the concert; or perhaps if you prefer, just sit back and enjoy the music.
“I’ve been dreaming of it ever since … I’d happily attend ten more concerts of the same programme!”
audience member | Project #4
Our Principles
The values that underpin each of our projects.
ENGAGE
We bring world-class chamber music to audiences new and old, presenting it in a way that makes the music approachable and broadens the public interest in classical music. We programme a diverse range of music, presenting stalwarts of the canon next to lesser-known works, particularly by South African composers.
INSPIRE
Our concerts bridge the gap between top young players and professionals. We give top young and talented students the chance to rehearse and perform exciting repertoire alongside professionals at both established and new and interesting venues around the Cape. Chamber music is no longer considered a viable career path in the Cape: we want to change this.
PLAY
For a great concert, we need committed musicians. The unique structure and financial scope of the projects allows musicians ample time to rehearse pieces that they want to play. The Collective aims to support musicians in giving chamber music the love and hard work it deserves by providing them with an internationally-competitive fee.