​The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) presented by the Music Department of Stellenbosch University scooped an award for the Best Contribution to the Visual Arts (including Public Arts) at the Cultural Affairs Awards of the Western Cape hosted by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in March. 

The Music Department is one of 18 departments within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Each year, DCAS invites nominations from the general public of “individuals (residing in the Western Cape) who have excelled and made a difference in one or more of the Cultural Affairs categories; and in the process, made a substantial contribution towards the Western Cape government realising its strategic objectives". The winners are then selected by a panel of experts from those persons nominated. 

“The SICMF was nominated in two categories: best contribution to public arts and best contribution to performing arts.  We won an award for the best contribution to public arts which was presented at a function hosted by the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ms Anroux Marais," said Dr Pieter Grobler, the Chair of the Music Department.

“This is a great achievement, not only in terms of the prestige it affords Stellenbosch University but also in terms of recognising the work that the Music Department and  SICMF does in the field of social responsibility. "

Grobler said that he was seated next to Denis Goldberg – a prominent anti-apartheid activist and the only white man to be sentenced as part of the Rivonia trial, which also led to Nelson Mandela's 27-year incarceration – on the night of the awards ceremony when the announcement was made.

Being no stranger to the SICMF, Goldberg was extremely happy that the festival received recognition and the entire Music Department was subsequently invited to his 85th birthday celebrations to be held at the Hugo Lampbrechts Music Centre in April.

Goldberg featured as narrator in the commissioned work, Moments in a Life, at the 2016 SICMF. The music written by local composer Matthijs van Dijk was cleverly crafted to enhance texts taken from Goldberg's autobiography.

The SU Museum also received an award for the Best Museum Promoting Social Inclusion along with Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum.

Photo: Dr Pieter Grobler accepted the award presented by Ms Jane Moleleki, the Director Arts, Culture and Language of the Western Cape government for the SICMF.