Celebrating 80 years of the WH Bell Music Library

On Thursday, 1 August, the University of Cape Town (UCT) commemorated a significant milestone: the 80th anniversary of the WH Bell Music Library. The celebration took place at the South African College of Music (SACM) and the WH Bell Music Library, located on UCT’s lower campus. The WH Bell Music Library, established in 1943, has been a cornerstone of music education and research at UCT. The library was originally housed in Strubenholm, a Victorian mansion in Rosebank.

Ujala Satgoor, the executive director of UCT Libraries, reminded guests that when the music library was opened, it was to be “the first completely self-contained, functionally designed music library in Africa”. Over the decades, the library grew and evolved, moving to new premises in 1973 that included the 160-seat Chisholm Recital Room, an opera studio, numerous teaching studios, and practice rooms. Today, the WH Bell Music Library continues to support the educational and research needs of students, faculty, and the broader music community.

A day of celebration

The 80th-anniversary celebrations kicked off at 11:00. Dr Reggie Raju, the director of Research and Learning Services at UCT Libraries, welcomed guests. “We’ve come here to celebrate not only the history and the achievements of the Bell Library, but also the invaluable role it has played in the musical and academic life of the College of Music.” The welcome was followed by an introduction to the panel discussion, which focused on the role of the library in music and performing arts pedagogy.

The roundtable discussion was moderated by Professor Rebekka Sandmeier and featured a diverse group of panellists: Beulah Gericke-Geldenhuys, the head of the music library at Stellenbosch University; Shaheema Luckan, principal library assistant at the WH Bell Library; Meryl van Noie, a senior lecturer at the SACM; Satgoor; and Lisa Wilson, the head of the dance section at the Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies (CTDPS). Each panellist brought unique perspectives on the evolving role of libraries in music and performing arts pedagogy, contributing to a rich and insightful discussion.

After the discussion, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a tour of the WH Bell Music Library. During the tour, participants viewed a curated display of the library’s historical archives, including photos and clippings from Special Collections, old score index cards, concert programmes, and scores by South African composers. One notable item on display was a concert programme that survived the devastating Jagger Library fire.

From 13:00 to 14:00, the SACM Lunch Hour Concert took place. This special vocal showcase featured South African songs selected and performed by SACM vocal students. The concert was designed to bring the music scores and literature from the library’s shelves to life, highlighting the connection between academic study and practical performance.

The concert concluded with a performance of “Kuwe Mthombo Wengoma” by Ntuthuko Sibisi, a piece that celebrated both the South African Schools Choir Eisteddfod (SASCE) and the WH Bell Music Library’s role in nurturing musical talent.

Personal connections and future impact

In organising the anniversary celebration, Andréa Alexander, a principal library assistant at the WH Bell Music Library, emphasised the resilience of the music community in Cape Town and South Africa. “Over the past 80 years, there have been several changes in the music space, how music is shared, conserved, and curated. Through all this, the WH Bell Music Library has stood the test of time,” she noted.

Engela Britz-Glanville, a senior librarian at the WH Bell Music Library, highlighted the collaborative effort between the library, SACM, and the CTDPS in bringing the event to life. “It truly showcases the supportive relationship between the departments and between libraries,” she said.

The celebration of the 80th anniversary was not just about looking back, it was also about envisioning the future. For Britz-Glanville, the anniversary held personal significance. As an alumna of SACM and a senior librarian at the library, her journey reflected the deep connection between the library and its community. “I started working at the music library as a student assistant when I was in my third year of study. In 2019, I took up a permanent post at the library and fell in love with librarianship as a profession,” she shared.

She further noted that she hoped that current and future students would feel a sense of belonging and inspiration from the celebration. “I hope our current students will have a great time on the day listening to the roundtable discussion and performances, and look back on it years down the line, maybe at the centenary, and be able to say ‘I was there at the 80th anniversary!’”