Conservatoire

Conservatoire

The term is most commonly used to refer to an institution or school for instruction in music, though it may also refer to institutions for instruction in other art forms (dance, drama etc) or even, more broadly to a gathering of specialists.

Sometimes also called a Conservatory, (Konservatorium in Afrikaans)

Conservatoires of Music in South Africa

Conservatoire of Music, Cape Town

CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC, Cape Town. The origins of the Drama Department at the University of Cape Town lay with the voice and speech training given here, and the theatrical productions which were done here by Professor W.H. Bell from 19**. Among the plays done under the auspices of the Conservatoire were Everyman (19**), *** (See also University of Cape Town Department of Drama) Later in th 1930s ** Peffer was head of Speech and Drama ?*

Conservatoire of Music, Stellenbosch

The oldest extant music school in South Africa, the Conservatoire of Music, Stellenbosch, was founded in 1905 and resided in Van Reibeeck street. Today known as the Department of Music and Konservatorium at Stellenbosch University of Stellenbosch, in Victoria Street.

History

The Conservatoire was founded in 1905 by proff LW Jannasch, Hans Endler, Mr Armin Schniter, Miss Nancy de Villiers and Mrs F von Willich. It was known as the South African Conservatorium of Music and was situated in Van Riebeeck Street, Stellenbosch, in a custom built building, containing the Konservatoriumsaal.

Initially the Conservatoire was run as a private institution until Prof Hans Endler sold it to the Stellenbosch University in 1934. Thus, a music department was introduced into the Faculty of Arts at the University. During the period 1934 - 1937 the Conservatoire was under the direct management of the Stellenbosch University Administration.

The new Conservatoire building was completed in 1978. This ultra modern building with its exceptional acoustical qualities was designed by Colyn and Meiring.

The building can accommodate approximately 140 fulltime under-graduate students over and above many post-graduate and part-time students. With many concerts and recitals, the Konservatorium and in particular the Endler Hall, play a very important role in the cultural life of Stellenbosch.

Links with Drama

The origins of drama training at the University of Stellenbosch lay with the voice and speech training given in the Conservatoire by Miss Nancy de Villiers and Sister ***, and especially later the appointment of Robert Mohr as speech teacher. His theatrical productions led to the establishment of a full degree course in drama. Among the plays done under the auspices of the Conservatoire were ***. (See also University of Stellenbosch Department of Drama)

Konservatoriumsaal (Conservatoire Hall)

A hall in the old Conservatoire of Music, built in 19**. Used as performance venue for music as well as play productions. Used by the Opleidingskollege Denneoord in 1927 to do Beatrys, *** Later taken over by the University of Stellenbosch, where **. Replaced buy the new Consrvatoire of Music in Vicoteria Street it was primarily used by the University of Stellenbosch choir as a training venue. In the late 1980s it was briefly fitted as a theatre for use by the University of Stellenbosch students, but the noise made caused the practice to be dicontinued. Occasionally used for performances and receptions (e.g. Not the Midnight Mass appeared there in 199*). In 2003 it was once more used as a temporary movement room for the Drama Department and as rehearsal space by local groups, but again the noise generated ended the practice.

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