On Sunday afternoon 25 May, four musicians (three flautists and an accompanist), all of whom make contributions to SA’s vibrant musical landscape, will be offering Ndlambe music lovers a most exciting treat.
The event takes place at Richmond House Museum, on top of Wesley Hill, at 3.30pm. Audience members can enjoy a welcome drink ahead of the concert. Tickets are R100, obtainable from Kowie News Agency (KNA). The Concert is entitled ‘Effervescence’ – so expect a sparkling experience!
The musicians:
Garreth Robertson, well known in local music circles, and currently an accompanist, répétiteur, and chamber music lecturer at Rhodes University who is passionate about piano education. He is also an active adjudicator both nationally and internationally, where he has conducted masterclasses and provided ensemble coaching for students. Gareth is also an advocate for chamber music, and has also appeared as a concerto soloist with several prominent orchestras throughout South Africa.
Garreth holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and Master of Music (Performance), both cum laude, from Rhodes University. This combination of research and performance comes together currently as he works toward his PhD. In his recital work, Garreth is shedding light on historical composers on the periphery of the traditional canon.
Dr Boudina McConnachie (PhD, MMus, BMus, PGCE, RULS) is Professor of Ethnomusicology at Rhodes University and heads the Dept of Music and Musicology. She specialises in both classical flute and African percussion and is engaged in teaching and learning at the International Library of African Music (ILAM), where she integrates Indigenous knowledge systems into her teaching.
She has received several prestigious awards, including the 2023 Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the 2024 South African National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Best Exhibition Catalogue Award, and the 2024 National Universities Teaching Award for SA.
Boudina is a fellow in the Future Professors Programme (FPP), and the SA Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) Programme. She is also a Fellow of the Centre for Creative Ethnography at Queen’s University Belfast. Boudina has adjudicated at several eisteddfods both nationally and internationally and loves promoting the musical talent that the Eastern Cape holds.
Sambesiwe Mavela is a flautist, music educator, researcher, and community engagement advocate, recognised for his contributions to music education and development. His musical journey began in 2010 at the Keiskamma Music Academy (KMA) in Hamburg, Eastern Cape, where he studied recorder before transitioning to flute. He later completed a Flute Teaching Course at Nelson Mandela University under Dr Erna Cloete, with additional mentorship from Helen Vosloo, Stephen Holder, and Daniela Heunis.
Mavela holds a BA in Music (with distinctions in Performance and Music Theory) and a BA Hons (cum laude) in Chamber Performance and Research. He is currently pursuing a MMus at Rhodes with Prof. Boudina McConnachie, where he also lectures in Music Theory, Flute Studies, and serves as Community Engagement Coordinator.
As a performer, Mavela has toured nationally and internationally with jazz and chamber ensembles including those at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. He serves as Assistant Conductor of the Makana Community Orchestra. Among his accolades are multiple double gold awards in national eisteddfods and a scholarship to study with Sir James Galway at the SA Galway Flute Festival.
Mavela is also the founder and director of the Inkwenkwezi School of Artistry, a non-profit dedicated to expanding youth access to the arts in Port Alfred. Through his teaching, research, and community work, he advances accessible, sustainable, and socially engaged music education.
Brendon Hoffmann
Brendon Hoffmann is a flautist pursuing his BMus degree at Rhodes University. He has a passion for both solo and ensemble performance within the Makhanda musical community. Brendon regularly performs in a variety of settings and styles: he teaches flute at Kingswood College, and is also a dedicated member and mentor in the Makhanda Community Orchestra. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (ECPO), where he has collaborated with seasoned professional musicians.
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, May 1, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
