Cello Trio: Chris Njapha, Sunday Kelechi, Oluwabenga Ajila

LIVE LUNCH HOUR CONCERT
Entrance is FREE!
Masks must be worn at all times.
Entrance via Neethling Street to go through Covid-19 safety measures.

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sunday Kelechi: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude

Ajila Oluwagbenga: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BWV 1009: I. Prelude

Chris Njapha: Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major BWV 1012: I. Prelude

Haydn (1732-1809) Divertimento in D Major for 3 Celli

i. Adagio

ii. Allegro di molto

iii. Menuet & Trio

iv. Finale

David Popper (1843-1913) Requiem for 3 Celli & Piano, Op.66

Cello 1 – Chris Njapha

Cello 2 – Ajila Oluwagbenga.

Cello 3 – Sunday Kelechi.

Piano – Joshua Pietersen

Sicelo Christopher Njapha is a 4th year BMus student at Stellenbosch University Music Department, under the tutelage of Babette Roosenschoon, specialising in cello performance. Chris only started formal music lessons at the age of 15 and played violin for two years before switching to the cello being taught by Nigel Fish at the Durban Music School. In Stellenbosch he has received masterclasses from David Cohen (2019), Alexander Buzlov (2018) and Norman Fischer (2017). In 2019, he attended a Summer Music Course in Semmering, Austria, ISA 19-Internationale Sommerakademie and had masterclasses with Miklos Perenyi, Xenia Jankovic, Jerome Pernoo and Reinhard Latzko. He is currently principal cellist of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (CPYO) and member of the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra.

Nigerian cellist Sunday Kelechi is a 2nd year Performance Diploma student at Stellenbosch University. He began playing the cello at the age of 13 at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) and in 2014 won the Music Quest Competition. In 2019 he was awarded the first prize in the Elna Elphick Cello Competition at SU. In the same year, Sunday appeared as soloist with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at both the Community Gala Concert at Artscape Opera Theatre and the Artscape Lunch Hour Concert. Sunday is also a member of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and principal cellist of the Stellenbosch University Symphony Orchestra.

Oluwagbenga Ajila is a 3^rd year BMus student at Stellenbosch University from Lagos, Nigeria. He comes from a family of eight children and the start of his musical journey was mostly self-taught with singing in the church as an ever-present influence. He started teaching himself piano at a very young age, and later moved to the cello. He remarkably took the music theory and practical cello examinations of the Associated Board of Royal School of Music up to Grade 7 as well as the singing examination to Grade 5, and piano Grade 1 without formal music instruction. After attending the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) he made the decision to study at Stellenbosch University. He has been principal cellist of the Festival Concert Orchestra at the 2018 SICMF and has also performed with the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In the future he would like to travel to America for masterclasses and to continue his studies there.