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The Greyton Genadendal Classics for All Festival, which started out as the Greyton Winter Festival 20 years ago, has undoubtedly become one of the most popular music festivals in the Overberg.
The 2024 Classics for All, which will be held from 10 to 12 May in various historic venues in Greyton and Genadendal, promises to be a celebration of excellent classical music, performed by top local as well as international artists.
Classics for All is a small, intimate and unpretentious festival for music lovers from all walks of life. The ethos behind the festival is to take audiences on an accessible classical music adventure, catering to everyone’s taste. You definitely do not have to be a music aficionado to enjoy this festival to the fullest.
The 10 concerts, which will be performed over three days, include pianist Francois du Toit, the Cape Town Baroque Ensemble, the Cape Town Camerata Choir (formerly the Cape Town Youth Choir), the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra Cello Ensemble, the Juliet String Quartet, the Stellenbosch Guitar Duo with Nina Fourie-Gouws and Michal George joining forces with Flamenco dancer Che Adams, the Da Cape’O String Quartet and Classics for All favorite voices of Minette du Toit-Pearce, Zanne Stapelberg, Janelle Visagie, Luvo Maranti, Van Wyk Venter and Jason September.
The marimba section of the Handevat Project, a music development programme for young learners between age 8 and 16, from communities in the Overberg, will perform two concerts that will be attended by all learners of the six schools in the greater Greyton-Genadendal area.
Festival director Coenie Visser spoke to Hermanus Times from Bangkok. “I am grateful to the supporters who come every year. It makes it a reunion of supporters and artists. Every year I am told it was the best festival ever and this makes it rather challenging for me to have an even better programme this year.”
He says in the past artists had to apply to perform at the festival. “It is a very sought-after festival by musicians and each year we are inundated with applications. This year we did things differently by inviting artists who have previously taken part in the festival.”
The festival offers visitors not only three days of wonderful music, but also the chance to experience the warm Overberg hospitality. Visitors can do wine and beer tasting, visit the Greyton Saturday morning market, browse the many art galleries, visit the historic Genadendal Church Square and Museum as well as enjoy the food that the local restaurants and street cafes have to offer, some of which will have classical busking, adding to the festive atmosphere in the village. Tickets can be booked through www.greytontourism.com. Additional programme information is available on www.classicsforall.com and the Greyton Tourism Office at 028 254 9414.
