Music lovers will be heading to the hills for the third annual Michaelhouse Music Festival, taking place over the month-end April long weekend. The four-day festival kicks off on Freedom day on Thursday, 27 April and concludes on Sunday, 30 April.

Following an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from the past two years, the programme offers a smorgasbord of world-class music, from the best of South African pop to choral, acoustic, jazz and classical music in the tranquil setting of Balgowan.

The line-up includes:

• last year’s winner of Idols SA season 12 Noma Khumalo, from Pietermaritzburg, who will be joined by legendary vocalist Sibongile Khumalo.
• Cape Town-based live electronic duo The Kiffness;
• Durban’s Easy Freak – a new two-piece performing an eclectic mix of funk, pop, soul and electro;
• Rubber Duc: an independent, fresh, four-piece band;
• Michaelhouse’s very own Pillar Box Red comprising of four pupils.

The festival promises to end on a high note courtesy of Africa’s foremost professional orchestra, the KZN Philharmonic, led jointly by maestro Richard Cock and Michaelhouse’s very own William Silk.

And regular music gig, Music in The Hills, moves for the weekend from its home at The Knoll Barn to Michaelhouse  especially for the festival. Be entertained by both professionals and amateurs, or grab a spot in one of the open mic slots to perform and share your music with a friendly supportive  music-loving audience.

The MiTH Tent will be located next to the Music Festival Entertainment Area and Food Court (outside the Indoor Centre).

The festival starts on Thursday, April 27 with Choral Sounds celebrating the beauty of the human voice with young singers from UP Youth Choir, Michaelhouse, Constantia Park and Howick Prep.

The afternoon of Friday, April 28 sees the KZN Youth Orchestra take to the stage for a programme of orchestral favourites; while the evening highlight will come from Sibongile Khumalo and Noma Khumalo.

Saturday, April 29 starts the day with some musical nostalgia with Days Gone By performed by the Michaelhouse Staff Music Quintet; followed by a lunchtime recital of classical marimba music.

Saturday evening see some of the best contemporary performers on stage together: The Kiffness, Rubber Duc, Easy Freak and Pillar Box Red.

There will be a gentle start to Sunday morning (April 30) with Two’s Company but a Trio’s Better performing music from Beethoven and Mozart played professional musicians on flute, violin and viola.

The Sunday mid-morning concert is Choral Elite with the KZN Midlands Youth Choir, the new Drakondale Girls’ Choir, Clifton Notties Prep Choir and Pietermaritzburg Children’s Choir.

The lunchtime concert features Youth Performers with the KZN Philharmonic Ensemble  under the baton of William Silk with the KZN Midlands Youth Choir and soloists.

And on Sunday afternoon Christopher Duigan (piano) and Junnan Sun (clarinet) will be performing piano and clarinet sonatas and variations by Saint-Saëns and Rossini.

The weekend programme wraps up with a rousing finale comprising the phenomenal KZN Philharmonic Conducted by Richard Cock and William Silk  and featuring the KZN Midlands Youth Choir, Clifton Notties Prep Choir,  Drakondale Girls’ Choir, PMB Childrens’ Choir,  Michaelhouse Chapel Choir and a number of soloists.

For more information like the festival’s Facebook page: Michaelhouse Music Festival, contact the school on 033 234 1000 or log on to www.michaelhouse.org. Tickets are available to purchase from www.tickethut.co.za/michaelhouse

Visit http://www.mith.co.za for further details about Music in The Hills component: the Midlands’ favourite weekly amateur music club.

You can also check out the attached programme: