The University of the Free State (UFS) will welcome some of South Africa's finest university and community choirs to Bloemfontein on 21 August 2026, when the Rhodes University Chamber Choir (RUCC) concludes its national tour with a collaborative concert celebrating musical excellence and partnership.

Hosted by the UFS Bloemfontein Campus Choir, the concert will bring together four choirs from across the country: the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, the UFS Bloemfontein Campus Choir, TSL, and the City of Roses Choir. The performance marks the culmination of the RUCC's week-long tour, which has included collaborations with the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Johannesburg, and the University of the Witwatersrand.

More than just a showcase of choral talent, the concert reflects a growing commitment among South African universities to strengthen relationships through music, creating opportunities for students to learn from one another and celebrate the country's rich choral tradition.

Music as a catalyst for collaboration

Sibusiso Njeza, Director of the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, said the Bloemfontein concert was a fitting finale to a tour built around collaboration.

"Throughout this tour, we have had the privilege of sharing music with outstanding choirs across the country. Ending the journey at the University of the Free State, alongside choirs that each bring their own unique musical identity, is a wonderful way to celebrate what we can achieve when institutions work together. These partnerships enrich our students, strengthen our choral community, and remind us that music has the power to connect people across campuses and communities."

For the UFS Bloemfontein Campus Choir, hosting the final concert presents an opportunity to showcase the university's own vibrant choral tradition while welcoming fellow musicians from across South Africa.

The conductor of the UFS Bloemfontein Campus Choir, Werner Stander, said the concert reflects the value of collaboration in higher education.

"We are delighted to welcome the Rhodes University Chamber Choir and our fellow choirs to the UFS. Choral music has always been about more than performance; it is about listening, learning, and building relationships. Bringing together choirs from different institutions creates an environment where students can inspire one another, exchange ideas, and celebrate the diversity that makes South African choral music so distinctive."

Stander added that the evening promises audiences an opportunity to experience a wide range of musical traditions and performance styles in a single concert.

"Each choir brings its own sound, repertoire, and identity. Audiences can expect an evening that showcases not only musical excellence but also the spirit of collaboration that defines South Africa's choral community. We hope this becomes the beginning of many more partnerships between our institutions."

Lucy Sehloho, UFS Manager for Arts and Culture, said the collaboration speaks to the broader role that arts and culture can play in creating meaningful connections between institutions and students.

“For us, this is about more than hosting a concert. It is about creating opportunities for students and artists to meet, share their work, and learn from one another. When universities open their spaces to collaboration in this way, we strengthen not only our artistic programmes, but also the relationships and communities around them. We are proud to welcome the Rhodes University Chamber Choir and our fellow choirs to the University of the Free State.”

As the final stop on RUCC's national tour, the concert underscores the role universities play in nurturing artistic excellence while building lasting connections among students, institutions, and communities through music.

Concert details