Proms CAPE

STEFAN LOMBARD, MUSICAL DIRECTOR

One of the most versatile musicians in South Africa, Stefan Lombard is a classically trained pianist, and a graduate from the University of Cape Town. He furthered his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England, and subsequently spent his professional career as a performer, music director, collaborator, conductor, and arranger.

He has performed as soloist with the leading orchestras in South Africa ,and is a keen chamber music recitalist. He has devised, compiled, directed and performed in many concerts for special events and festivals such as the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual community gala spectacular concerts.

Highlights of his extensive work abroad includes recordings with the Wellington Sinfonia in New Zealand and the original production of ‘Cape Town Opera Chorus concert “African Angels’ ,travelling to Holland, Belgium, Sweden and the 2016 Aix en Provence Festival in France,

Stefan musically directed the first South African production of the musical CATS. The success of the local production took Stefan abroad, where he conducted in Lebanon, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, China, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Qatar. Other productions locally included Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, Orpheus in Africa, Cabaret and the Rocky Horror Show, for which he won the prestigious Naledi Best Musical Director Award in 2015.

Stefan made his official conducting debut with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014 during the UK/Ireland tour of Cape Town Opera’s Show Boat, followed by the London Palladium international touring production of The Sound of Music. In 2018 he was associate conductor on the international touring production of Evita.

During the onset COVID pandemic, he was one of the first local artists to perform an online live streamed concert with singer Lynelle Kenned, with whom he enjoys an ongoing musical partnership. In December 2021 he was invited to compile and headline the opening of the 2nd Tantora Winter Festival in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, following in the footsteps of Andrea Bocelli performing the year before. The UNESCO world heritage site was the most spectacular backdrop for the Hegra Candlelight Classics 2021 and a career highlight.

Stefan believes in the communication of music as a universal language. He considers himself very fortunate to be able to feel equally at home in such a variety of genres.