In April 2025, South African cellist, Abel Selaocoe, makes his Australian debut, and he makes it as a guest director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Together they will perform Selaocoe's own original works alongside a new commission from renowned Australian composer Nigel Westlake and excerpts from cellist and composer Giovanni Sollima’s electrifying double concerto When We Were Trees, featuring ACO Principal Cello Timo-Veikko Valve performing alongside Selaocoe.
We took a minute with our cellists to get their unique perspective on welcoming a fellow master of their instrument to direct the Orchestra.
ACO Principal Cello Timo-Veikko 'Tipi' Valve
“Abel Selaocoe is going to be something truly special. Don’t miss this concert, or you will hear about it from your friends later and regret it.
“I’m looking forward to being swept away by his spirit and energy. The musician and performer in him will take centre stage; the cello is merely a vehicle that he commands. I don’t think Australia has witnessed a concert quite like this before.”
ACO Cello Julian Thompson
“I’m really looking forward to having Abel Selaocoe performing around Oz with the ACO. He’s a musical live-wire, expanding the role and breadth of the cello’s many characters and I can’t wait to see what kind of cellistic vibrancy he brings to the table.
“The shows are going to be musically and cellistically eye-popping. His vocal stylings are out of this world and how he weaves his cello playing in and around his vocals is pretty amazing. It’s really special how his approach has such freedom and spans such a breadth of musical worlds.”
ACO Cello Melissa Barnard
“It will be great to meet and play with cellist Abel Selacoe and percussionist Sidiki Dembélé. Abel seems like a joyful and intensely creative musician and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what new sounds and techniques happen when the ACO gets together with these superb African musicians. I think he
approaches the cello in a very wholistic way, with broad dimension, and I know the vibe will be good!”
Abel Selaocoe is touring to Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide, 3-15 April. Click here to buy tickets.
