Preview: The Mzansi Tenors in concert in Hermanus, presented by Richard Cock

Preview: The Mzansi Tenors in concert in Hermanus, presented by Richard Cock, October 2, 2022

The Mzansi Tenors has been dazzling audiences around the country and Hermanus is thrilled that this exciting outfit will be in concert on October 2, 2022, 3pm, in the Dutch Reformed Church. The tenors will be accompanied on piano by Sam Riedel. The concert is being presented by renowned conductor, Richard Cock. This exciting group of 11 singers was established in late 2021, when lockdown restrictions were easing in South Africa. Don’t miss this exciting new development on the South African music scene. Info as supplied:

About The Mzansi Tenors

The Mzansi Tenors are students from the Opera School at the University of Cape Town. One of their lecturers, Mr Sipho Fubesi, returned to South Africa after many years of performing in operas in Europe. He was blown away by the voices of his talented students and decided to create an opportunity for them to regularly make music together during Covid. He subsequently selected students with the top tenor voices to form the Mzansi Tenors. His motivation was not only the importance of young musicians sharing and performing their music, but it was also to create an opportunity for these young musicians, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to earn an income to contribute to the costs of their studies.

This opportunity to change these young men’s lives would also give hope to young South Africans to follow their dreams and to know that with commitment, passion and hard work anything is possible. Rand Merchant Bank and Richard Cock have joined forces with this proudly South African group of young and talented tenors who have already performed at corporate functions, big concerts and weddings across the county. Do not miss this opportunity of hearing these young men who have started on the path to very bright futures.

Their full programme in Hermanus on October 2, will include popular songs by Frank Sinatra, the Beatles and Leonard Cohen as well as famous opera arias and choruses by Puccini, Verdi and Donizetti and special arrangements of South African favourites.

About Richard Cock

With his irrepressible and ebullient nature Richard has brought classical and choral music to tens of thousands of people in South Africa through introducing these music genres to new audiences.  He received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for Music from the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT). 

In May 2000 Richard received an honorary doctorate in music from the Rhodes University and In 2013 he received a special award from the Afrikaanse Taal-en-Kultuur Vereeniging (ATKV) in recognition of his 30 years dedication to spreading the love in music in South Africa.  In March 2020 he was awarded the Robert Grey Medal from Bishops College for distinguished service to music in South Africa.

Among others he has worked with Julian Lloyd-Webber, Lynn Harrell, Joshua Bell, Florian Uhlig, Lesley Garrett, Zoë Beyers, Corinne Chapelle and Patricio Buanne. He also worked closely with Pavarotti and The Three Tenors on their South African Tour. During an eight-year sojourn in the United Kingdom he studied at the Royal School of Church Music, became director of Music at the Cathedral Choir School, assistant organist and director of Music at the Cathedral Choir School in Chichester and a fellow of the Royal College of Organists. Since returning to South Africa in 1980 he has been an SABC producer, director of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral, director of Chanticleer Singers and Symphony Choir of Johannesburg, and a conductor of note.

From 1987 to 1991 he was director of the Transvaal Chamber Orchestra. Having gained experience as personnel manager of the National Symphony Orchestra in the 1980s, Richard became artistic director of that Orchestra from 1991 to 1999. During that time the symphony concerts grew in popularity and scope, and Richard managed to take the orchestra out of the concert hall to varied venues, from Cape Town to Cairo. It truly became the National Symphony Orchestra performing both in small towns and large cities throughout South Africa and its neighbouring territories. Richard continues this work throughout South Africa – in particular with the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra. 

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