Message from Coenie Visser, Classic 4 All Director

When the opportunity arose to do my “grey gap year” in Bangkok, Thailand, my first thought was : “…what is going to happen to Classics for All 2015 without me…?” Then a friend reminded me of Saxon White Kessinger's poem The Indispensable Man (1959) : "sometimes when you feel that your going would leave an unfillable hole... put your hand in a bucket filled with water, pull it out and the hole that's remaining... " - well, you know the rest...

And she was right… several locals came forward and volunteered to help with the arrangements for the 11th Classics for All Festival. All I had to do was “manage”, from a distance, the incredible work load required to put together a festival like Classics for All.

There are always many people to thank - sponsors, local businesses and individuals. But one person needs to be singled out – Leone Rouillard, who, with the help of her amazing team at “Hello Greyton” took over the reins of the Festival with such ease and professionalism, and without whose tireless drive this festival would not have materialized.

The 2015 Greyton Genadendal Classics for All Festival is dedicated to Pamela for her ongoing and unwavering support of this Festival, and her valueble input, enthusiasm and energy in organising and monitoring the "finer detail" of the event since its inception in 2005. Pamela and John Duff left Greyton at the end of 2014 after having lived in the village for 17 years to settle in Somerset West, and shortly after Pamela celebrated her 80th birthday.

The Festival as we know it today has grown into a force to be reckoned with on the South African classical music calendar, and we can now 'play with the big guys'. More and more artists are applying to perform at the Festival, more and more classical music lovers from all over South Africa attend the festival, while more and more sponsors are taking notice of the festival.

We have a fabulous line-up of artists this year, and the “Classics for All” festival will no doubt, like in previous years, delight both visitors and locals alike. A special welcome to those visiting our villages for the first time. I hope that you will enjoy the beauty of both villages and the warmth and friendliness of the people who live here.

Thank you to the artists who have accepted the invitation to perform at the Festival. Thank you to all our sponsors. And thank you to the people of Greyton and Genadendal who have embraced this ‘Festival for Everyone’ and who have supported the concerts for so many years. I truly believe that this year’s Festival will be ‘the best one ever!’

Lastly, please support our sponsors and all participating restaurants and businesses.