A Global Sound Rooted in South African Tradition
Soweto String Quartet (SSQ) is an ongoing music outfit that bears testimony across the world by articulating and combining traditional township rhythm and borrowed classical melodies that shaped its musical style. Established in 1978, SSQ remains relevant as the demand for corporate/state bookings, national and international music festivals, concert tours, workshops, master classes and interviews continue unabated.
About the Quartet
SSQ is driven, ambitious and inspired individuals with common goals, for which SSQ can proudly declare the influence amongst the youth now and young adults believing in the achievements of the quartet becoming a successful ensemble internationally through the brand and music genre we perform. Throughout the country the budding young string players perform some tracks from SSQ albums with zest.
Workshops & Educational Impact
Developing the Next Generation
In June 2022 the quartet was invited by Cornwall Hill College in Centurion to work with stringers music students doing workshops based on our repertoire, culminating to a mass string orchestra producing an incredible performance enjoyed by capacity audience.
Tours & Collaborations
SSQ embarked on a mini-tour of Makhanda (Grahamstown) in May 2024. We visited an artist hub Access Music Project serving young and talented string players doing workshops. The Quartet also went to St Andrews College to work with music students, also visited Diocesan School for Girls. The much-awaited big night music extravaganza by SSQ and Band plus all about mentioned institutions gave an astonishing and exciting performance at the Settlers Monument.
Our Musical Identity
A Sound that Represents a Nation
The music genre of SSQ represents our nation’s profound diversity, cultural expression and renders the Quartet as catalyst for change.
Global Performances & Legacy
International Reach & Historic Moments
SSQ has continued to perform in prominent events across the globe, one such an event was a performance at the historical Nelson Mandela’s inauguration. Many other historical performances have taken place since then. The Soweto String Quartet has touched people’s lives within the African continent and beyond. They have performed in most parts of South Africa, Gaborone – Botswana, Manzini + Mbabane – Swaziland, Harare – Zimbabwe, Maputo – Mozambique, Livingstone – Zambia, Kampala – Uganda, Nairobi – Kenya, Douala – Cameroon, Brazzaville + Kinshasa – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Algiers – Algeria, Cairo – Egypt, Doha – Qatar, Tel Aviv – Israel, Beirut – Lebanon, Damascus – Syria, Amman – Jordan, Tripoli – Lybia, East and West Australia, Wellington – New Zealand, Santosa Island – Singapore, Kowloon – Hong Kong, Seoul – South Korea, Astana – Kazakhstan, Paris – France, Granada – Portugal, Stuttgart + Berlin – Germany, Vienna – Austria, Prague – Czech Republic, London – England, Toronto – Canada and New York + Washington D.C. – The United States of America.
