Under the leadership of Associate Professor François du Toit, the SACM provides Classical musical training covering all aspects of the art with opportunities in solo, chamber music and ensemble performance. In addition, the SACM has prominent academic staff in composition, musicology and music education.
The SACM is committed to giving our students the best possible practical and professional experience towards their future careers. To this end, the SACM hosts weekly evening concerts at the Baxter Concert Hall. There are also several annual competitions where students compete for bursaries and prizes.
Laura Searle Prize for Piano Concerto Playing
Lionel Bowman Prize for the best performance of a work by Beethoven
James de Villiers Prize for the best performance of a Romantic work
Robert Andrews Prize for the best performance of a work composed in the last hundred years by a composer from the Southern Hemisphere
Cone of Composition
Jan Royce Prize for Orchestral Composition
The Hendrik Hofmeyr Prize for the Performance of South African Music
FoCTO Bursary Competition
David Aldred Memorial Prize for Sopranos
Aviva Pelham Operetta Competition
FMR Bursary Award
Neues Lied Art Song Duos Competition
Schock Foundation Prize for Singing
FMR Bursary Award
Schock Foundation Prize for Chamber Music
UCT Strings Competition
UCT Woodwind Competition
Keyboard studies: Piano; Organ; Harpsichord; Accordion
Vocal studies
Strings: Violin; Viola; Cello; Double Bass; Classical Guitar; Harp
Woodwinds: Flute; Oboe; Clarinet; Bassoon; Recorder; Classical Saxophone
Brass: French Horn; Trumpet; Trombone; Euphonium; Tuba
Percussion: All orchestral percussion instruments
Orchestral / Ensemble Conducting
UCT Symphony Orchestra
UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble
UCT String Ensemble
Ergonomix Percussion Ensemble
Various Chamber Music Ensembles
Entrance requirements:
Diploma students require a pass in matric.
Degree students require a Bachelors pass.
All students require Grade V Theory of Music; Grade VII practical (Unisa or equivalent)
Students must pass a Theory of Music Entrance Test.
For entrance to practical courses, an audition will be required. A successful audition does not guarantee a place in one of the music degrees or diplomas in general, nor in a particular programme or stream.
Click here for more details of academic courses
Procedures by instrument type.
The South African College of Music boasts one of the finest student orchestras in South Africa with regular performances in the Baxter Concert Hall and at other venues throughout the Western Cape. The orchestra also takes part in professional operatic performances in Opera UCT’s own productions at the Baxter and Artscape Theatres.
UCT Symphony Orchestra hosts 4 concerts annually including:
UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble
The UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble hosts 2 concerts annually as well as appearances at Festivals where possible.
UCT String Ensemble
The UCT String Ensemble was founded in 1997 by Anmari van der Westhuizen and is currently headed by UCT’s Head of Strings, Associate Professor Farida Bacharova. Students of the SACM come together to form one of South Africa’s leading youth string orchestras.
The above concerts are conducted by our dedicated full-time conductor and Head of Ensembles, Brandon Phillips. The UCT String Ensemble hosts 1 concert annually.
Ergonomix Percussion Ensemble
The UCT Percussion Ensemble “Ergonomix” comprised of students, staff and alumni of the South African College of Music under the direction of Frank Mallows, who is also Percussion lecturer at UCT. The UCT Percussion Ensemble performs 1 concert annually.
Various Chamber Music Ensembles
The SACM has a long and proud tradition of chamber music training. Up to 2006, the course was convened by Assoc Prof François du Toit, from 2007-2021, the convener was Dr Becky Steltzner, and from 2022, it is convened again by Assoc Prof François du Toit. The students do four projects per year; three can be individual movements, but one must be a full work. All projects are examined in public Student Showcase Concerts.
