COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES

Friends of Orchestral Music Cape Town Annual Quiz (August 2023)

Although not strictly a performance, in August 2023 a team of intrepid VOXies (the self-styled “VOXymorons”) represented us at the Friends of Orchestral Music Cape Town annual quiz – an event to raise funds and awareness for orchestral music and musicians in the city.

Hosted by Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra bassist and fellow singer Roxane Steffen (alas, no special treatment was forthcoming!) and taking place at the Artscape’s Opera Bar with hearty servings of soup and wine to coax the brain cells, we battled through music theory and managed to identify (most of!) the musical extracts. We are proud of our team for achieving joint second place together with our colleagues from Fine Music Radio!

50th Birthday Celebrations of the School of Practical Philosophy (September 2022)

We love sharing our music! In September 2022 we contributed to the 50th birthday celebrations of the School of Practical Philosophy in Claremont as a small token of appreciation for allowing us to use their premises for our weekly rehearsals earlier in the year.

Starting off in the 12th century with an homage to wisdom by philosopher-composer Hildegard von Bingen, we traversed the Renaissance (Tallis, Palestrina and Victoria) and ended in our own era with the plainchant-inspired melodies of Ola Gjeilo. (Many thanks to bass Aaron for this refreshing “ultra-violet” perspective on our attire!)

Cultural Evening at St George’s Grammar School (March 2020)

In March 2020, we joined a number of local schools for a performance at a cultural evening hosted by St George’s Grammar School.

As our weekly rehearsals take place at St George’s Grammar School, it was our pleasure to be able to give back in this small way to an appreciative audience!

Performance at Iziko Conference Dinner (March 2020)

In March 2020, VOX Cape Town performed at the conference “Living Forward, Looking Back” organised by the Commonwealth Association of Museums at the Iziko South African Museum.

While guests had an unforgettable experience dining under the majestic displays in the Whale Well, a space housing a unique collection of whale casts and skeletons, we sang a variety of music from our programme EVOLUTION and the Missa Charles Darwin, as well as Horizons by Peter Louis van Dijk.

Music Evening at St George’s Grammar School (June 2019)

In June 2019, we were invited to share a warm evening of music with the children of St George’s Grammar School in Mowbray (our weekly rehearsal venue). Witnessing their violins, marimbas, recorders and voices in performance reminded us of the words of the great Paul McCartney:

“I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity… To see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.”

One of their teachers wrote to us afterwards: “You made the evening one to remember. The children have never sat so quietly before. Thank you for sharing the beautiful music that you make.”

Cultural Exchange with the Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki (April 2019)

On Monday 1 April 2019, VOX Cape Town spent an inspiring evening with the Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki (Akademiska Sångföreningen), who were on tour from Finland, in which we shared folk songs, serenades and sauvignon blanc. Skål!

Private Performance at the Wedding of Chloë and Matthew Reeler (March 2019)

On Saturday 30 March 2019, VOX Cape Town was honoured to sing at the wedding of one of its singers at the beautiful Rozendal Guest Farm in Stellenbosch. Their two offerings included Eric Whitacre’s beautiful setting of words by Rūmī (“This Marriage”) and a sublime arrangement of the Pentatonix hit, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”. Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Reeler!

May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī, 1207-1273

ArtAngels Charity Auction for The Click Foundation at Ellerman House, Bantry Bay (October 2018)

On Wednesday 18 October 2018, VOX Cape Town was invited to perform at the annual ArtAngels Fundraiser at Ellerman House in Camps Bay. This saw VOX singing alongside Richard Brokensha, Aston Wyle and Benjamin Fisher and raised R2.7 million for The Click Foundation, an initiative that aims to address the literacy crisis in South Africa.

After performing their hit single Fly to Paradise with Richard Brokensha, VOX sang “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman”.

Performances at Constantia Place and Berghof Retirement Villages

In 2015 and 2016, VOX Cape Town presented two evening performances at Constantia Place Retirement Village, due largely to our special connection with Liz Murray, one of the residents there.

In 2017 and 2018, VOX presented two afternoon performances at the Berghof Retirement Village in Hof Street, Gardens.