The Hendricks Chapel Choir Visits South Africa to Engage and
Connect with Choirs Throughout the Country
Follow the trip on Facebook or by using our Instagram handle @hendrickschapel to learn more!
[Syracuse, NY] – On May 12, 2026, The Hendricks Chapel Choir of Syracuse University, a 50-person premier mixed ensemble, will arrive in South Africa. This tour marks the first trip to the African continent for the choir. In each city visited, the students will have the chance to perform and learn alongside local artists.
South Africa Tour Schedule Photo Gallery
The choir’s appearances in South Africa will include an eclectic collection of music crafted for choir and organ, including compositions by Antonio Vivaldi, Cecilia McDowall, Paul Basler, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Jeffrey Ames and Hendricks Chapel Choir Director José “Peppie” Calvar. Additionally, the Hendricks Chapel Choir will perform arrangements of traditional South African tunes to honor their host country.
Leading the performance tour is José “Peppie” Calvar, who serves as assistant director of choral activities at the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. Dr. Anne Laver, University Organist at Syracuse University, and two student organists — Michael Guarneiri and Anne Spink — will share accompanying duties on the organ and sing with the choir.
“The Hendricks Chapel Choir is thrilled to be taking a performance tour of South Africa. As students at Syracuse University, the choir is eager to bring a slice of our region to the rest of the world and to foster collaboration through sharing music,” said Calvar. “We also look forward to collaborating with local audiences on three South African selections.”
The Hendricks Chapel Choir will begin their South African tour at the University of Johannesburg, and then visit the Villeria Dutch Reformed Church to perform with the Conwonnite Choir. Later, they will travel to the University of Pretoria for a workshop and evening concert in the Musaion.
The next stop will be a performance with the Drakensberg Boys Choir School under the direction of Mr. Vaugn van Zyl. Their final concert will be a joint performance with the University of the Western Cape Creative Arts Choir where Calvar will co-conduct with Mr. Leon Starker. A full schedule can be found here.
In addition to the choir and Dr. Calvar, other university representatives will be accompanying the choir. Ken Harper, associate professor of Visual Communications at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications has worked with organizations in South Africa, namely Inkululeko, iKapa Impact and the School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) at Rhodes University. Dara Harper, communications manager of Hendricks Chapel will cover the events, conducting interviews for future videos and capturing moments along the way.
