Johannesburg Musical Society
More Than 100 Years of Beautiful Music
Since 1902 the Johannesburg Musical Society has presented Johannesburg audiences with a range of superb concerts.
The Johannesburg Musical Society (JMS) returns to the Linder Auditorium in 2026 for an International series featuring prestigious artists from Spain, Bulgaria, Russia, Azerbaijan, the UK and South Africa. Eight specially curated concerts shine the spotlight squarely on pianists, with a sprinkling of strings. All the artists have won multiple competitions, have high-powered European careers and are highly sought-after soloists and chamber musicians.
As always, JMS concerts take place very conveniently on Sunday afternoons at 15:00 in the Linder Auditorium, Johannesburg’s premier concert hall, on the Wits Education Campus in Parktown. Here, audiences are assured of safe and convenient parking, as well as on-site refreshments of tea, coffee, wine and snacks.
Subscribers to the entire season get heavily reduced ticket prices. They also get a free programme (valued at R20) at each concert and have the luxury of knowing that their seats are secured for the entire year.
The Johannesburg Musical Society has embarked on a new initiative and is now working in close collaboration with its sister organisation the Cape Town Concert Series (CTCS), as well as with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO). Facing the year with renewed energy, the JMS looks forward to sharing these superbly gifted music-makers with the music-loving public of Johannesburg.
ALL CONCERTS TAKE PLACE IN THE LINDER AUDITORIUM, ST ANDREWS ROAD, PARKTOWN
For more details: info@jms.org.za
or AVRIL on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 5
SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 2026 AT 15:00
LEO DE GEVISSER piano
South African-born and bred, LEO GEVISSER is beginning to make his presence felt in America and on the Continent. Currently based in New York, he is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music where he worked under the mentorship of Jerome Lowenthal. Now, with the accolade of being a Young Steinway Artist and with several prizes under his belt, he is being noticed as far afield as France and Italy. He was awarded 2nd Prize at the 18th Concours International de Piano d’Orlèans , as well as the Public Prize and the Elliot Carter Prize, and he has also been honoured with a month-long Henri Dutilleux-Geneviève Joy Residency in France. As well as having been invited to perform at contemporary music festivals in France and Italy, he has also performed extensively in South Africa.
Leo consistently donates part of his performance fees to Masidlale, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s outreach programme for under-privileged children in townships around Cape Town He also composes, and his chosen field is working in intonation systems and spatial sound configurations. As a result he is often invited to premiere electronic compositions in America, Italy and other European countries.
Programme :
Grieg : Moods Op.17
Poulenc: Nocturne in G
Poulenc: Improvisation in C Minor
Danse Lente
Poulenc : Theme and Variations
Mozart : Adagio in B Minor
Liszt : Two Legends
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
MEMBERS
BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TO THE JMS
AND SAVE ON TICKET PRICES AND PROGRAMMES
SUBSCRIBE FOR THE SEASON: 8 CONCERTS FOR R2200
MAKE A DEPOSIT TO THE JOHANNESBURG MUSICAL SOCIETY
STANDARD BANK
ACCOUNT NO 001 805 908
Send PoP to info@jms.org.za with your name and e-mail address.
We will contact you to find out your seating preference.
NON-MEMBERS
Booking for individual concerts:
SINGLE TICKETS R375 EACH AT QUICKET:
https://www.quicket.co.za
Please contact us if you have any queries.
AVRIL 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 1
SUNDAY 18 JANUARY 2026 AT 15:00
ALEXANDER ULLMAN piano
Boasting a record number of prizes – most notably First Prize at the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Poland – this British-born pianist’s performances have captivated audiences and critics alike. Noted for his ‘powerful musical intellect’ and the elegance and mastery of his performances, he has already appeared at the Vienna Musikverrein, the Salzburg Grosser Saal, and in major cities such as London, Sofia and Chengdu with huge success. His cds showcasing Grieg and Liszt have also been acclaimed.
Programme :
Grieg : Lyric Pieces, Book 10
Liszt : Etude No 3 (La Campanella)
Grieg : Pier Gynt Suite No 1, Op.6 (arr.Ullman)
Liszt : Étude No 6 – (Theme and Variations)
Grieg : Songs, Op 4
Liszt : En réve
Liszt/Wagner : Tännhauser Overture
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216
CONCERT 2
SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2026 AT 15:00
LUDMIL ANGELOV piano
Winner of too many prizes and awards to list – Senigallia (Italy), Fryderyk Chopin (Poland), Palm Beach International and Piano Masters (Monte Carlo) are just some of them – this masterful musician is an acclaimed exponent of the music of Chopin. Lauded for his ‘consummate mastery’, his recording of Chopin’s Rondos and Variations was awarded a Grand Prix du Disque. He is a sought-after pedagogue whose masterclasses are renowned and he also regularly serves as a juror at important competitions.
Programme :
Mozart : Fantasy in C Minor, K 475
Weber : Sonata Op 24 in B Minor
Chopin : Four Mazurkas, Op 24
Chopin : Sonata in B Flat Minor, Op 25
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 3
SUNDAY 12 APRIL 2026 AT 15:00
LEO DE MARIA piano
First Prize winner of the 2024 Unisa International Piano Competition, this young Spaniard already has a professional career of which he can boast. He is also a prize-winner at a long list of competitions in Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Slovakia and Italy and has toured China extensively. From a musical family headed by a famous Cuban pianist, Leo de Maria also teaches in Salzburg. ‘Plays like a master’ is just one of the many accolades which he has garnered.
Programme :
Schumann : Humoreske, Op 20
Granados : Amor y la Muerte
Liszt : ‘Dante’ Sonata
Ravel : La Valse
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 4
SUNDAY 7 JUNE 2026 AT 15:00
ELVIN GANIYEV violin
FRANÇOIS DU TOIT piano
Born into a family of esteemed musicians, Elvin Ganiyev gave his first concert at age 8. In that same year, he was admitted to the Zurich Conservatory Young Students programme. At age 10, he debuted with the Moscow Virtuosi under the baton of Vladimir Spivakov. Since then, he has performed with Zubin Mehta, Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Ashkenazy and many other famous performers. He is heard in prominent halls world-wide, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, to name a few. He will be partnered by François du Toit, undoubtedly on of South Africa’s most accomplished and distinguished musicians.
Programme :
Debussy : Sonata for Violin & Piano in G Minor
Ravel : Sonata for Violin & Piano (1923 – 1927)
César Franck : Sonata for Violin & Piano in A Major
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 5
SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 2026 AT 15:00
LEO DE GEVISSER piano
South African-born and bred, LEO GEVISSER is beginning to make his presence felt in America and on the Continent. Currently based in New York, he is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music where he worked under the mentorship of Jerome Lowenthal. Now, with the accolade of being a Young Steinway Artist and with several prizes under his belt, he is being noticed as far afield as France and Italy. He was awarded 2nd Prize at the 18th Concours International de Piano d’Orlèans , as well as the Public Prize and the Elliot Carter Prize, and he has also been honoured with a month-long Henri Dutilleux-Geneviève Joy Residency in France. As well as having been invited to perform at contemporary music festivals in France and Italy, he has also performed extensively in South Africa.
Leo consistently donates part of his performance fees to Masidlale, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s outreach programme for under-privileged children in townships around Cape Town He also composes, and his chosen field is working in intonation systems and spatial sound configurations. As a result he is often invited to premiere electronic compositions in America, Italy and other European countries.
Programme :
Grieg : Moods Op.17
Poulenc: Nocturne in G
Poulenc: Improvisation in C Minor
Danse Lente
Poulenc : Theme and Variations
Mozart : Adagio in B Minor
Liszt : Two Legends
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 6
SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2026 AT 15:00
Artist to be announced
Details to be announced
True to its founding principles, the JMS is committed to showcasing the best of South Africa’s talented artists.
Programme :
to be announced
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 7
SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2026 AT 15:00
JEAN-PHILIPPE SYLVESTRE piano
& ODEION STRING QUARTET
Canadian pianist Jean-Philippe Sylvestre has the distinction of winning the First Prize three times at the Canadian Music Competition. He has played extensively in London and Paris and has also toured China. The Odeion Quartet is recognised as one of the finest string ensembles in South Africa. The flagship of the University of the Free State, the quartet has toured abroad and has won many awards for the high quality of its performances. This concert will present a unique opportunity to hear some wonderful chamber repertoire.
Programme :
to be announced
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
CONCERT 8
SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2026 AT 15:00
FINALE: Details to be announced
Details to be announced
True to its founding principles, the JMS is committed to showcasing the best of South Africa’s talented artists.
Programme :
to be announced
Book your tickets on the JMS website at: https://www.quicket.co.za
The Linder box office opens for ticket sales at 14:00. Credit cards accepted.
More details about the JMS from Avril on 082 920 5216.
The Johannesburg Musical Society holds a special place in the hearts of music-lovers. The oldest music society in South Africa, it can trace its birth date right back to 1902, when Edward VII had just ascended the throne of England and the Anglo-Boer war had just ended.
For well over 100 years it has held a unique place in South African musical history, presenting the world’s most renowned solo and chamber performers, and also serving as a platform on which our own country’s most impressive talents are presented to the wider public.
The Johannesburg Musical Society has an appreciative and extremely loyal audience, and has been served – since its inception – by some illustrious names who have willingly given their time and skills to the Society. The Earl of Athlone served as its President, Sir Lionel Philips was its Vice-President and Major-General Baden-Powell (of scouting fame) was an early enthusiastic patron of the Society.
The Johannesburg Musical Society continues – 123 years after its inception – to ensure that its audience members enjoy the very best of both established and emerging talent, thus maintaining its tradition of excellence.
However, if the Society were to rely only on ticket sales and membership fees, there would not be enough funds to offer the superb variety which it brings to you. The Society is also assisted by its advertisers, as well as gifts and donations from concerned and committed parties, whose generosity makes it possible for the Society to plan a varied and exciting programme each year.
Please consider helping to continue this proud tradition by making a donation, or by sponsoring a concert in memory of somebody who loved music. The Society is registered as a non-profit organisation, and all donations are exempt from donations tax.
FRIENDS OF THE JOHANNESBURG MUSICAL SOCIETY