The National Ensembles Competition was established in 1995 and was first presented by the Music Department of Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, under the leadership of Zorada Temmingh. The goal was to create an opportunity for school learners to compete in groups, rather than focusing on solo performances. Feedback from the initial competition was overwhelmingly positive, culminating in the decision to make it an annual event.
Who can participate?
Participation is open to community, school and university ensembles who compete in 2 categories:
- School category (age 12-18 years)
- Open category (age 19-27 years)
The competition takes place over two rounds where:
- Round 1 (qualifying round) will be hosted online via pre-recorded performance submissions.
- Round 2 (final round) will be hosted in the form of public concerts in the Konservatorium building at Stellenbosch University.
The recording, travel, and accommodation arrangements, as well as the costs thereof, are the responsibility of the respective ensembles. Limited financial assistance for participation in the final round is available for ensembles that are not based in the Western Cape.
- There is no restriction on the number of ensembles within which an individual participant may enter the competition.
- A member of an ensemble may not be replaced by someone else in the final round, unless permission is obtained from the organiser, under extraordinary circumstances.
- There a is maximum limit of 12 members for large Classical, Jazz, and African Traditional Music ensembles, and a maximum limit of four members for Small Classical ensembles.
- All performers must be within the respective age restrictions (i.e. no teacher-accompanist)
- No conductors/teachers/non-performers are allowed on stage before or during the performance.
Categories & Prizes
The SU Ensemble Competition invites participants to enter in the following sections within the two main categories, with any combination of instruments and/or voice:
| SCHOOLS CATEGORY | OPEN CATEGORY | ||
| Ages 12-18 years | Ages 19-27 years | ||
| Classical Small Ensemble (max 4 members) | Classical Small Ensemble (max 4 members) | ||
| Classical Large Ensemble (max 12 members) | Classical Large Ensemble (max 12 members) | ||
| Jazz Ensemble (max 12 members) | Jazz Ensemble (max 12 members) | ||
| African Traditional Ensemble (max 12 members) | African Traditional Ensemble (max 12 members) | ||
| PRIZES | PRIZES | ||
| Overall winner | R12 000* | Overall winner | R16 000* |
| Best Classical Small Ensemble | R7 000 | Best Classical Small Ensemble | R9 000 |
| Best Classical Large Ensemble | R7 000 | Best Classical Large Ensemble | R9 000 |
| Best Jazz Ensemble | R7 000 | Best Jazz Ensemble | R9 000 |
| Best African Traditional Ensemble | R7 000 | Best African Traditional Ensemble | R9 000 |
| Runner-Up Classical Small Ensemble | R3 500 | Runner-Up Classical Small Ensemble | R4 500 |
| Runner-Up Classical Large Ensemble | R3 500 | Runner-Up Classical Large Ensemble | R4 500 |
| Runner-Up Jazz Ensemble | R3 500 | Runner-Up Jazz Ensemble | R4 500 |
| Runner-Up African Traditional Ensemble | R3 500 | Runner-Up African Traditional Ensemble | R4 500 |
| TOTAL PRIZE MONEY | R47 000 | TOTAL PRIZE MONEY | R61 000 |
* Overall winner prize-total includes the respective section prize.