VC's concert gets crowds on their feet

Vice-chancellor Professor Njabulo Ndebele has extended his heartfelt thanks and congratulations to UCT's South African College of Music (SACM), its staff and students, for yet another memorable Vice-Chancellor's Concert. The college took centre stage at three such concerts at the end of August, with staff and students again volunteering their time for the annual event. And as usual, the performers had the crowds on their feet. The artists, in order of appearance, were Dizu Plaatjies and students on his African music programme, the ivory-tinkling duo of Associate Professors Franklin Larey and François du Toit, students from the Opera School, directed by Professor Angelo Gobbato (who also doubled as MC on the first evening), vocalists Associate Professors Virginia Davids and Sidwill Hartman, and the show-stopping UCT Big Band under the baton of Associate Professor Mike Campbell. The Big Band also showcased a few upcoming vocal talents, including Nomfundo Xaluva and Sakhile Moleshe (above), who had toes a-tapping with his soaring renditions of jazz standards Mack the Knife and Straighten Up and Fly Right. And while the onstage talent deserve all the praise they get, many backroom staff also played their part in the smooth-running of the concerts. So, fittingly, the vice-chancellor would also like to extend his thanks to many other staffers - too numerous to list here - but including Gillian Lindner of the SACM and Judy Smit and her team in the Department of Communication and Development.

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