Wits Standard Bank Piano Festival Brings Eight Pianists to Braamfontein

From 8 to 10 May 2026, the Chris Seabrooke Music Hall at Wits University hosts the second edition of the Wits Standard Bank Piano Festival. Across four double‑bill concerts, eight leading pianists will celebrate South Africa’s rich jazz and classical traditions in one of Joburg’s most intimate performance spaces.

 

The Lineup: Jazz and Classical Masters

 

• Friday 8 May, 19h00: Thembi Dunjana & Thandi Ntuli

• Saturday 9 May, 15h00: Yonela Mnana & Bokani Dyer

• Saturday 9 May, 19h00: Hilton Schilder & Andile Yenana

• Sunday 10 May, 15h00: Megan Geoffrey Prins & Taissa Poliakova

 

Highlights include Thandi Ntuli, one of South Africa’s most celebrated jazz exports with multiple SAMA nominations, and Bokani Dyer, known for genre‑crossing compositions. Hilton Schilder brings decades of experience, blending jazz with Cape Malay traditions, while Megan Geoffrey Prins and Taissa Poliakova showcase classical brilliance.

 

The Venue: Chris Seabrooke Music Hall

 

Located at the heart of Wits University’s Braamfontein campus, the hall is renowned for its acoustics and intimate atmosphere. Unlike large concert venues, audiences here sit close to the performers, hearing every nuance of touch and tone. The university setting adds depth- bridging education with professional artistry.

 

Why Piano Festivals Matter

 

South Africa’s piano legacy spans jazz and classical traditions, from Abdullah Ibrahim’s global influence to Petronel Malan’s international career. A dedicated piano festival honours this heritage while giving current artists space to experiment. The double‑bill format pairs contrasting voices, a jazz improviser with a classical interpreter, or two jazz players with distinct harmonic languages, making each concert a discovery.

 

What You Need to Know

 

Where: Chris Seabrooke Music Hall, Wits University, Braamfontein
When: 8 to 10 May 2026
Cost: Tickets via Webtickets

Schedule:

• Friday 8 May, 19h00: Thembi Dunjana and Thandi Ntuli
• Saturday 9 May, 15h00: Yonela Mnana and Bokani Dyer
• Saturday 9 May, 19h00: Hilton Schilder and Andile Yenana
• Sunday 10 May, 15h00: Megan Geoffrey Prins and Taissa Poliakova

 

• Good to know: Seating is limited — book early. Allow time for campus parking.

 

The Wits Standard Bank Piano Festival offers something rare: a concentrated weekend of keyboard mastery across traditions, in a space designed for listening. For piano lovers, it’s unmissable. For newcomers, the double‑bill format makes it an easy way to discover what resonates.