Tales from the South

Difficulty: Level B
Voices: Equal voices
Age: 10-18 years old
All ateliers

Tales from the South

Step into the heart of South Africa with Tales from the South, an energetic and immersive atelier celebrating the country’s deep-rooted tradition of storytelling through music.
Known as the singing nation, South Africa’s rich cultural heritage is brought to life through indigenous folk tales centred around the legendary Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo. This vibrant program weaves together the rhythms of traditional African music, expressive dance, and spoken word in both isiZulu and English. Each work in the program is specially composed for this Atelier and will be premiered at the Festival. Participants will journey through captivating animal tales passed down through generations, learning to embody the music and movement that have carried these stories across time. More than just a musical experience, this atelier invites young singers to explore the soul of a nation where every song tells a story, and every story sings. With each beat, each word, and each gesture, participants will be inspired by the creativity, warmth, and power of South African culture. Tales from the South promises an unforgettable artistic adventure – a celebration of voice, heritage, and rhythm that will leave every singer uplifted, connected, and changed.
All ateliers
Pieter Bezuidenhout
South Africa

Pieter Bezuidenhout is a SAFTA-nominated composer, conductor, instrumentalist, and producer whose visionary artistry is reshaping the South African musical landscape. Based in Cape Town, his distinctive and innovative voice has earned him national and international recognition. As the founder and conductor of The Horizons Project Choir, he has premiered over seventy new works by South African composers, making a profound contribution to the evolution of the country’s choral tradition.

Deeply committed to cross-cultural musical dialogue, Bezuidenhout’s works span choral, chamber, and theatrical genres, and have been performed across five continents. Published internationally by Helbling Verlag in Germany, his compositions reflect a bold synthesis of tradition and experimentation. He is a two-time recipient of the Stefans Grove Composition Award and has been honored by the European Academy of Choral Music.

In 2023, he was selected as one of the University of Johannesburg’s Artists in Residence, during which he created a groundbreaking isiZulu theatre work inspired by the poetry of Benedict Wallet Vilakazi—the first of its kind. That same year, he released SOEKER, a genre-defying Afrikaans Electro Pop album that explores Jungian archetypes. Through his work, Bezuidenhout continues to inspire, challenge, and expand the boundaries of contemporary South African music.