VOX TURNS TEN
CELEBRATING A DECADE OF IMAGINATIVE, IMMERSIVE CHORAL EXPERIENCES
VOX Cape Town was founded in 2015 with a vision to create fresh, mesmerising choral experiences to enrich the musical life of the Mother City, and to continue the legacy of Barry Smith and the St George's Singers. Over the past ten years, VOX has become one of South Africa's most exhilarating musical forces, renowned for its imaginative presentations of seldom-heard and new choral music in unconventional performance spaces.
Last year, as we celebrated our first decade and reflected on our diverse portfolio of performances, and the contributions of our singers and our supportive community, we planned a constellation of concerts that spanned the intimate to the immersive in a host of interesting venues around the Mother City. Thank you to all who joined us as we continued to inspire and enrich our community last year, while setting our sights firmly on the future!
'VOX Turns Ten' concert calendar
2025
A Festival of Poetry and Carols on Fine Music Radio
Wednesday 24 December 2025 at 7 PM
Our annual Christmas Eve broadcast brings this unique musical celebration to a much wider audience (streams via www.fmr.co.za)
'O Holy Night': A Classical Symphonic Christmas (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday 10 to Friday 12 December 2025 (6 PM) at St George's Cathedral
Once again, we join the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Cape Town Opera for popular carols in the grand acoustic of 'The People's Cathedral'
'Follow That Star: A Traveller's Companion to Christmas'
Friday 5 December 2025 (8 PM for 8:30 PM) at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, De Waterkant
Join us for an immersive, globetrotting musical narrative celebrating Advent and Christmas as we sing a host of familiar and lesser-known carols with early folk ensemble Here be Dragons
A Folk-Inspired Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday 7 December 2025 (11 AM) at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, De Waterkant
The folk flair of Here be Dragons will enhance the traditional readings and music of this much-loved service
Choral Pilgrimage with VOX on St Cecilia's Day
Saturday 22 November 2025 (10 AM to 1:30 PM)
St Cecilia is the patron saint of music; on her feast day (and this composer's birthday) we sing Benjamin Britten's magnificent a cappella 'Hymn to St Cecilia', a setting of a poem by WH Auden, in iconic spaces (and acoustics) around the Mother City
FIRST PERFORMANCE IN AFRICA
'X Years of Reverb' by Jonny Greenwood
Friday 8 August 2025 from 12 PM to 8 PM
Spanning eight hours on 08/08, this marathon organ recital will take place in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church to (in the composer's words) "agitate and reanimate all the music, voices and sounds that have ever filled the air and soaked into the walls of the space where the music is played"
VOX 10th Birthday Broadcast on Fine Music Radio
Wednesday 30 July 2025 from 7 PM to 9 PM
Tune in for this special edition of 'Music Among Friends' , hosted by Dirk Binneman, in which we savour our favourite recordings from the past decade and celebrate our community (streams via fmr.co.za)
VOX 10th Birthday Party at the Youngblood Gallery
Saturday 26 July 2025
On our tenth birthday weekend, we toast the future at this vibrant cultural centre in Bree Street that, in 2016, was the venue of our first public performance
'The Place of the Stars' (|gamirodi !khaes)
Friday 20 June and Saturday 21 June 2025
Taking place on the winter solstice in the historical McClean Dome of the South African Astronomical Observatory, we present an intimate evening of music by William Herschel (who discovered Uranus) and the premiere of 'Missa Desolata', composed by Martin Watt in memory of the late Peter Klatzow
Good Friday broadcast on Fine Music Radio of our live recording of the Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins
Friday 18 April 2025 at 7 PM
Embark on a choral and orchestral journey to solace at the beginning of the Easter long weekend with this live recording of our memorable presentation from St George's Cathedral in 2018
Fine Music Radio 30th Birthday Benefit Gala Concert
Sunday 6 April 2025 at 2:30 PM
We are thrilled to participate in this fundraising celebration in the Artscape Opera House for our favourite classical and jazz radio station
'Eternity in an Hour'
Wednesday 26 March 2025 at 7 PM
Providing a sonic oasis from the bustle of daily life, we present a rich tapestry of choral and organ music reflecting the season of Lent; composers include Olivier Messiaen, Philip Glass, Mbuso Ndlovu, John Rutter and Herbert Howells
To set the stage for our next concert, a recital celebrating the King of Instruments will be presented by John Woodland on Thursday 20 March from 1:15 PM to 2 PM as part of the free 'Unplugged' lunch-hour series at St George's Cathedral
CHOIR-IN-RESIDENCE: 2025 Mzanzi Conductors' Convention
Friday 14 March to Sunday 16 March 2025
We will spend the weekend working with young choral conductors under the guidance of visiting mentors Markus Utz and Ernst Buscagne in preparation for a concert at 12:30 PM on the Sunday
'Phases, Phrases, and Palindromes'
Wednesday 29 January 2025 at 7:30 PM
At this lecture-recital, presented by Grant McLachlan as part of the UCT Summer School, we sing exquisite music by Arvo Pärt
and John Tavener in the Baxter Concert Hall
2024
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Fine Music Radio
Tuesday 24 December 2024 at 7 PM
Our annual broadcast, which brings this special musical celebration to a much wider audience and this year includes the Gqeberha-based Red Ochre Ensemble, can be heard online via fmr.co.za
'O Holy Night': A Classical Symphonic Christmas
Wednesday 11 December and Thursday 12 December at 6 PM
Popular carols with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Cape Town Opera and the St George’s Cathedral Choir in the grand acoustic of St George’s Cathedral
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, De Waterkant
Sunday 8 December 2024 at 11 AM
Join us for our local adaptation of the much-loved Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, now in its ninth year
'Not Your Usual Nine Lessons': A Festival of Poetry and Carols with VOX
Sunday 1 December 2024 at 6 PM
A concert-style reimagining of this famous order of service at Rondebosch United Church, blending tradition and inclusivity with contemporary messages of renewal and hope
'From Roots to Renewal: A Celebration with VOX'
Sunday 17 November 2024 at 4 PM
To honour St Andrew's in Newlands, which in 2024 turns 130, this uplifting afternoon features musical highlights from our year – and launches our Ten Years of VOX programme!
My VOX highlight of 2025 was...
"Definitely the observatory! Looking forward to much more in 2026 from the fabulous VOX!" (Melanie)
"Your concert 'The Place of Stars' at the observatory was the most beautiful, spiritual, moving choir concert I have ever had the privilege to attend. It left me speechless. I hope you get to do another series there, but I realise it's challenging. I went to most of your 2025 concerts—can't get enough. Looking forward immensely to more 'gifts' you will give us this year." (Elizabeth)
"Thank you VOX for your beautiful music and dedication. Last year held so many treats. Our highlight was 'Follow that Star' which was breathtaking and epitomised the essence of the season. Memorable experiences; abundant life! May 2026 be another grand and glorious year ahead." (Jeanie and Joe)
"My favourite piece of music performed by VOX in 2025 was Ola Gjeilo's 'The Speheres' at the observatory. I found the listening experience deeply moving and ethereal. The acoustics were wonderful and the atmosphere was sublime. Thanks for all the inspiring work you do!" (Clare)
"'X Years of Reverb'—PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do this again so I can schedule a few hours to sit in that space and meditate." (Sheila)
"'The Place of the Stars! Absolutely wonderful... Thank you for all you do for music in Cape Town!" (Rod)
Founder and Artistic Director: John Woodland
'Imanagineer': Kyle Paulssen
VOX Vice-Captain: Lia Hall
Interview on Fine Music Radio's 'The Choral Life' 03.11.2024
VOX IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
BILL VAN RENSBURG
Vivo Music is one of South Africa's premier sheet music specialists, catering to all instruments, genres, and skill levels. For over twenty years, we have proudly partnered with schools, music colleges, teachers, and independent musicians across Cape Town, the Western Cape, and the country. Our commitment to personal service is at the heart of what we do, and we are honoured to be a part of the musical community.
Join our chorus of supporters and keep VOX's voices soaring! If you would like to support our musical projects, please get in touch with us.
To ensure that we are accountable to our members, and to demonstrate that we are committed to the long-term future of VOX and the promotion of choral music in Cape Town, we are a registered non-profit (197-784 NPO) and public benefit organisation (930068202 PBO).
Where did the past five years go?! Read more about our Five Years of VOX celebrations in 2020!