Videos
Videos of the Cathedral Choir unless otherwise stated.
2023
23 July: Sung Eucharist
- ‘View me, Lord‘, Words by Thomas Campion, music by Richard H. Lloyd.
Farewell to Canon Melany Adonis, 16 July
During the Sung Eucharist:
At the High Tea which followed in St George’s Hall
- ‘Soos die Vader’
- ‘Soos ‘n Wildsbok’
- ‘‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ by John Rutter (Cathedral Consort)
Sunday 11 June, Sung Eucharist
- ‘Mele, pelo, le moea’
- ‘Teach me, O Lord’ by Thomas Attwood
Sunday 11 June, Choral Evensong
(Cathedral Consort)
- Nunc Dimittis from Thomas Weelkes’ Short Service
- ‘Lo, round the throne’ by N Herman, Arr. H Ley, words by Rowland Hill
Pentecost Sunday, 28 May, Choral Evensong
(Cathedral Consort)
- Nunc Dimittis in D by Brewer
- ‘If ye love me‘ by Thomas Tallis
Sunday 21 May, Sung Eucharist
- ‘King of Kings, Majesty‘ by Jarrod Cooper, soloist Siyolise Sandi
Ascension Day, 18 May
(Cathedral Consort)
- Agnus Dei, Missa Secunda by Hans Leo Hassler
Sunday 14 May
At the Sung Eucharist:
- ‘Ubi Caritas’ by Ola Gjeilo
At Choral Evensong (Cathedral Consort)
- Magnificat in B flat by Stanford
- Extract from Evensong Responses by William Byrd
Sunday 23 April
At the Sung Eucharist:
- ‘This Joyful Eastertide‘ trad. tune, words by George Woodward.
Easter Carols, 23 April
(Cathedral Consort)
- ‘This Joyful Eastertide‘ Trad. tune, words by George Woodward.
- ‘Walking in a Garden‘ Trad. tune, words by Hilary Greenwood.
- ‘Now the green blade riseth‘ Trad. tune, words by John Crum.
Easter Day, 9 April
At the Easter Vigil service:
- Easter Proclamation (Exultet) sung by the Precentor, Kutlwano Kepadisa.
- ‘Most Glorious Lord of Life‘ by William H Harris, words by Edmund Spenser
Good Friday, 7 April
- ‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?‘, Trad., arr. Bob Chilcott
- ‘The Lamentation‘ by Edward Bairstow (extract)
- ‘O Saviour of the World‘ by John Goss (extract)
Palm Sunday, 2 April
St Patrick’s Evensong, 19 March
- ‘The Deer’s Cry’ by Arvo Pärt, sung by the Cathedral Consort, conducted by Peter Black.
Lent 1, 26 February
- ‘Sign us with ashes’ by William P Rowan.
George Herbert Evensong, 26 February
Cathedral Consort
- Magnificat in A by Sumsion
- Responses by Patrick Wise
- ‘King of Glory, King of Peace‘, words by George Herbert, set to music by J S Bach arranged by Sir William Henry Harris
Transfiguration Sunday, 19 February
- ‘Light and Life‘ by Christopher Cockburn.
Back to School Service, 5 February
- Sizohamba naye (congregational)
- ‘Awesome God‘ by Michael W Smith, arr. Virgil Matrass & Kutlwano Kepadisa. DSG & SAC choirs, Kwantu Choir, Cathedral Iimvumi with David Wynne Music School String Orchestra.
2022
27 November, Advent Carols
The Cathedral Consort directed by Kutlwano Kepadisa, recorded at an evening service of Advent Carols on Advent Sunday.
- ‘O Rex Gentium’ (Advent Sentence)
- ‘E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come‘ by Paul Manz (1919-2009), words adapted from Revelation 22 by Ruth Manz (1919-2008).
- ‘Bethlehem Down‘ by Peter Warlock (1899-1957), words by Bruce Blunt (1894-1930).
20 November
- ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring‘ by J S Bach
13 November, Choral Evensong for those who died in War
Cathedral Consort
- Thomas Weelkes: Magnificat
- Thomas Weelkes: Nunc Dimittis
- Responses: Smith of Durham
- ‘Greater love hath no man’ by Anne Dudley
23 October
- ‘The Storm is Passing over’ by Charles Albert Tindley, arr. Barbara Baker.
31 July
- ‘View me Lord‘ by Richard Lloyd.
3 July Festival Sung Eucharist
Cathedral Choir with members of the Makhanda Kwantu Choir, with Peter Black at the piano.
- ‘O, the depth of Love Divine‘ by Andrew-John Bethke.
26 June Festival Sung Eucharist
Robert Ray’s ‘South African Mass’.
24 June Choral Evensong (Festival)
- Brewer in D Magnificat
- Brewer in D Nunc Dimittis
- Christopher Cockburn ‘Light and Life’
19 June
‘Soos ‘n Wildsbok‘, arr. Renette Bouwer (Cathedral Choir).
Corpus Christi, 16 June
Byrdsongs, directed by Simon Tibbs, sang movements from the Missa Aeterna Christi Munera by Palestrina.
Trinity Sunday, 12 June
The Sanctus from the Gospel Mass by Robert Ray (Cathedral Choir).
Ascension Day, 26 May
The Cathedral Choir singing ‘God is gone up with a merry noise‘ by Arthur Hutchings.
Sunday 22 May
The Cathedral Consort, recorded at Choral Evensong:
- Nunc Dimittis, Thomas Morley
- Responses, William Smith
- ‘Sicut Cervus’, Giovanni da Palestrina
Sunday 15 May
- ‘Most Glorious Lord of Life‘ by William Harris, sung by the Cathedral Choir directed by Kutlwano Kepadisa, with Bayanda Mthetho at the organ. Recorded at Sung Eucharist on the 5th Sunday of Easter.
Easter Carols, 1 May
On the evening of 1 May the Cathedral Consort led a service of Easter Carols in the Cathedral. Among the carols were:
- ‘O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden‘, sung to the original German words, with original melody and harmonies by Hans Leo Hassler.
- ‘This joyful Eastertide‘, words written by George Woodward in 1894, to the melody of an old Dutch Easter carol.
- ‘Walking in a garden‘ , words by Hilary Greenwood, sung to the melody of the old French folksong ‘Au claire de la lune’.
- ‘Now the green blade riseth‘, an Easter Carol by Canon John M C Crum (1872-1958), sung to an old French carol melody.
Easter Day, 17 April
The Exultet, sung by Precentor Kutlwano Kepadisa.
Good Friday, 15 April
The Cathedral Choir sings ‘Adoramus te, Christe’, the Antiphon for the Good Friday Liturgy. Music by Eric Barnum, adapted by the University of Johannesburg Choir. Recorded at the Good Friday liturgy, 15 April.
Maundy Thursday 14 April:
- ‘Ubi Caritas’ (Duruflé, adapted by M Baker), sung during the Washing of Feet.
- ‘Tantum Ergo’ (F. Laloux), sung during the Communion.
Palm Sunday, 10 April
‘A Palm Sunday Antiphon‘ by David Morgan. Cathedral Choir conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa, accompanied by Jonathan Hughes.
Ash Wednesday, 2 March
‘Hold us in Your Mercy’ the Penitential Litany, arranged by Garry Diagle. Precentor Kutlwano Kepadisa, with the Choir and congregation.
Sunday 27 February
The choir with new Probationers from Oatlands Primary School sing
- ‘Open the eyes of my heart’
- ‘Nkosi yiba nenceba’ from the Multi-Lingual Cathedral Setting by A-J Bethke
- ‘Heilig, heilig’ (Sanctus) from the Multi-Lingual Cathedral Setting by A-J Bethke
Back to School Service, 6 February
‘Ukholo Lwami‘ sung by the Chamber Choir of DSG and St Andrew’s College.
2021
Sunday 7 November, All Souls’ Service
Excerpts from Mozart’s Requiem, sung by the Cathedral Consort, accompanied on the piano by John Jackson.
Patronal Festival 31 October
At Patronal Festival Eucharist:
- Kyrie by Ambesa Cagwe, sung by the Choir
- ‘You raise me up’ by Rolf Lovland, played on the violin by Tyreece Burger
At Festal Evensong:
- Sanctus from ‘A Little Requiem‘ by A-J Bethke, sung by an invited group of singers
Saturday 23 October Organ Recital
From ‘Suite Gothique’ by Léon Boëllmann:
- ‘Introduction – Chorale‘, played by Bayanda Mthetho, Junior Organ Scholar
- ‘Menuet Gothique‘, played by Jonathan Hughes, Senior Organ Scholar
Sunday 5 September
Cathedral Organ restored: selections. Jonathan Hughes at the organ. Kutlwano Kepadisa rehearsing the Iimvumi and probationer choristers.
Sunday 29 June: Our Children’s Service
Extracts from the choir, children and congregation, conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa, singing:
This little light of mine (Iimvumi, conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa).
Sunday 1 August
Obianuju Njoku, accompanied by Bayanda Mthetho, singing ‘Bless this house‘ words by Helen Taylor, music by May H Brahe. The occasion was the first Sung Eucharist in the Cathedral after a month of Level Four lockdown, during which all worship had to be online.
Sunday 27 June
‘Out of the depths have I called to you O Lord’: The first four verses of Psalm 130, sung by Bayanda Mthetho, accompanied on the adungu by Asakhe Cuntsulana. Recorded at a Sung Eucharist.
Trinity Sunday, 30 May
Extract from ‘Holy, holy, holy’ by Schubert, sung by Senior Organ Scholar Jonathan Hughes, accompanied on the piano by Junior Organ Scholar Bayanda Mthetho.
Fifth Sunday of Easter, 2 May
After the Gospel: ‘Halleluia!’ Members of the Makhanda Kwantu Choir conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa.
2020
Nine Lessons and Carols 20 December
The Cathedral Choir conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa.
‘Bogoroditse Djevo‘ by Arvo Pärt.
‘Yazalw’imvana‘ (The Lamb has been born), a carol written by the Cathedral choristers in 2016.
After the re-opening of the Cathedral
1 November: All Souls’ Evening Eucharist. Listen to Jessica Lloyd-Jones singing the Pié Jesu from Andrew-John Bethke’s Requiem Mass, accompanied on the organ by Bayanda Mthetho.
25 October: First service with the Cathedral Junior Choristers (Iimvumi) directed by Kutlwano Kepadisa, including four Probationers from P J Olivier School and Victoria Girls High School. Listen to them singing
- ‘If ye love me‘ by Thomas Tallis.
- ‘Thixo Onothando’
Three post-Easter monologues by Chris Mann
Chris wrote: After the crucifixion, many of the followers of Jesus appear to have been bewildered and depressed. Their leader had been put to death, their movement was in danger of being attacked by different factions in Jerusalem. Slowly, during the afterglow, the reality of what had happened began to filter through.
I’ve tried to express those mixed post-Easter feelings, akin I imagine to how many of us feel when buffeted by the rough, unending turbulence of contemporary life, in dramatized monologues, written in poetic form
Many thanks to the actors, the composer and supporting artists who put this together!
Please note the deliberate avoidance of visual images in the monologues. We did this so that the imagination of you the listener can respond to the spirituality of the spoken words more independently.
Original Music: © Keith Moss
Digital implementation: Julia Skeen
Click the links to download the YouTube videos.
- The Road to Emmaus, read by Malcolm Hacksley
- The Dream of Mary Magdalene, read by the Reverend Melany Adonis
- Doubting Thomas, read by Lindsay Reardon
Back to School Service 2020
The ad hoc ‘Back to School Choir’, trained by Assistant Director of Music Kutlwano Kepadisa, sang at the Back to School service on 2 February 2020. They were drawn from members of the nine schools which attended the service. Listen to them singing, conducted by the Cathedral Head Chorister, Nzulu Ndlwana, ‘Bawo, Thixo Somandla’.
2019
Organ recital in St Bartholomew’s
On Saturday evening, 23 November 2019, the Cathedral Director of Music at the time, Cameron Luke, gave a recital on the organ of St Bartholomew’s Church in Makhanda/ Grahamstown. Listen to him playing “Penguins’ Playtime” by Nigel Ogden.
National Arts Festival 2019
The Cathedral Choir, Director Cameron Luke, sang Haydn’s ‘Little Organ Mass’ at the first Sung Eucharist of the National Arts Festival on 30 June 2019. They were accompanied on the organ by former Cathedral Director of Music Christopher Cockburn. Listen to the Gloria.
St Michael’s Marimbas, directed by Asakhe Cuntsulana, gave two concerts in the Cathedral during the National Arts Festival 2019, as part of Spiritfest.

Makhanda Kwantu Choir
At their concert ‘Choral Extravaganza’ in the Cathedral during the 2019 National Arts Festival, the Makhanda Kwantu Choir directed by Kutlwano Kepadisa sang ‘The Word was God‘ by Rosephayne Powell. This is a short extract.
2018
Nine Lessons and Carols service 25 November
Bayanda Mthetho (aged 15) playing part of Bach’s Prelude No 5 in G Major, Bwv 557.
Cathedral Choir End of Year Concert
On Sunday 21 October the Choir conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa presented their End of Year Concert. Listen to the following excepts from their items:
- ‘Alleluia’ by Gordon Young
- ‘Masite Amen’ arranged by Sidumo Nyamezele, solo sung by Kutlwano Kepadisa
- ‘Ubi Caritas‘ by Ola Gjeilo
Cathedral Choristers and Conductor on TV
An episode of ‘Slice of Light’, a religious programme shown on SABC2 Sunday 5 August. This included short interviews with choir conductor Kutlwano Kepadisa, and two of the junior choir boys, Xolisa Foley and Junaid Douglas. Please note this was recorded before the National Arts Festival, and before the Kwantu Community Choir went to the World Choir Games and came back with a Silver award.
National Arts Festival 2018
The Cathedral Choir, conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa, singing Ukholo Lwami at the Festival Choral Evensong, 29 June 2018.
St Michael’s Marimbas in concert under Asakhe Cuntsulana.
At the first Festival Eucharist on 1 July 2018, Neo Motsatse played this lovely violin solo, ‘Little Girl‘ by Sibongile Khumalo arranged by JB Arthur, together with the Kwantu Choir conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa.
Selections from the final Festival Eucharist service in the Cathedral, 8 July 2018, with guest choir from Jesus College Cambridge.
2017
Cathedral Choir
Extracts from:
- Bawo Wam (trad. arr. Kepadisa) conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa.
- Ascendit Deus (anon) conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa.
National Arts Festival 2017
The St Michael’s Marimbas under Asakhe Cuntsulana, performing in the Cathedral during Spiritfest 2017.
Little Jazz Mass (Bob Chilcott): Extract from the Gloria, sung in the Cathedral during the National Arts Festival, 2 July. An invited group of jazz players and singers, conducted by Kutlwano Kepadisa.
Bayanda Mthetho (organ)
A clip of Bayanda Mthetho (14) playing the Cathedral organ.
Farewell to Dr Andrew-John Bethke
Watch a video by Grocott’s Mail about how we said farewell to Dr Andrew-John Bethke, Cathedral Director of Music 2012-2017.
2016
Cathedral Choir
Dr Andrew-John Bethke was Cathedral Director of Music from mid-2012 until Easter 2016. The following videos show him conducting extracts from:
- Evensong Responses (Patrick Wise) June 2016
- The Lord’s Prayer to a setting by Rimsky-Korsakov
- Magnificat in G (Bethke) 1 July 2016 (Festival Choral Evensong)
2019 Multi-media presentation: ‘Masithi Amen‘
Sarah James, a Rhodes University journalism student, has created a project titled ‘Masithi Amen’. This is a multimedia story on the Cathedral of St Michael and St George which was completed over approximately 6 weeks. It provides a rounded picture of our Grahamstown Cathedral community, including interviews and music as well as pictures and text. Do take the time to explore ‘Masithi Amen‘ – best enjoyed on a laptop or desktop computer. Unfortunately this link is broken.