VC’s Concert picks up the pace

The annual Vice-Chancellor’s Concert series presented a medley of musical offerings, much to the delight of the staff, donors and special guests that the event is designed to honour.

From rafter-reaching operatic high notes and feats of co-ordination and skill on percussion, the event made it clear why performers from the South African College of Music (SACM) are world-renowned.

“It is really one of the jewels in the crown of UCT, producing stars, [and] people who go and change the world with their music,” enthused Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price in his welcome.

Presided over by Denise Onen, the chair of the Music Students Council, the concert was compiled by the SACM’s concert coordinator, Gillian Lindner.

This celebratory affair was extended, for the first time, to a three-evening run. This was to cater 1 300 new members of staff, who joined the university as a result of the 2016 insourcing project.

Price expressed his sincere thanks to all staff (and their families) for their commitment, resilience and sacrifice.

“And it’s, in a way, particularly heart-warming to be able to do so on a day like today … we’ve had a challenging time, again, as a result of protesters.”

Many staff members have been through a very stressful year, he said.

“So everyone is feeling the stress, not just of the timetable, but the pressures that many of us have faced in facing disruptions, in facing the protests. And most of that has been like sailing a ship through a storm. The storm is not something that we have control over.”

“And yet we have come through and this is largely thanks to you.”

“We are going to hear some of the future stars tonight on stage,” Price said. “These are previews for what in future you will have to pay hundreds of dollars to see on stages around the world.”