main-slide
READ MORE +
ABEL SELAOCOE
About
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe has established himself as a leading voice of reimagining classical music. Redefining the parameters of the cello, he moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from collaborations with world and jazz musicians, to concertos and solo performances. Selaocoe combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing and body percussion, and is devoted to composing works and curating programmes that highlight the links between Western and non-Western musical traditions, broadening the horizons of classical music to reach a more diverse audience. In 2023 he was awarded the RPS Instrumentalist Award for his performances and collaborations which "blaze with creation, sending audiences home on a high".
Selaocoe thrives in exploratory settings, developing new projects with contemporaries, and enjoys close collaborations with musicians from a medley of genres, including Bernhard Schimpelsberger, Seckou Keita, Manchester Collective, Giovanni Sollima and Dudù Kouaté. In 2016, Selaocoe formed Chesaba – a trio specialising in music from the African continent, including many of his own compositions – and in 2022 formed the Bantu Ensemble who perform his music widely.
- SOLO
- BANTU ENSEMBLE
- CHESABA
- ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES
- COMPOSING
- COLLABORATIONS
projects
SOLO
Abel’s solo recitals are sonically immersive explorations of the musical worlds which inspire and drive him. Abel’s use of extended techniques and loops build a layered sound world of vocals and cello which pushes the boundaries of how the cello is played and perceived.
“My goal in my musical life is to take this instrument that I’ve learned from a very young age in a classical manner and connect it to where I’m from, allowing the culture of a stringed instrument like the cello or violin to evolve as it visits different cultural spaces.”
READ MORE +
BANTU ENSEMBLE
Abel formed the Bantu Ensemble in 2022 and together they celebrate an innovative approach to reimagining classical music, moving seamlessly across a multitude of genres and styles. Their programmes, which are based around Abel’s original compositions alongside works by composers who inspire him, incorporate classical, traditional and jazz. Wowing audiences worldwide, and equally at home on classical and larger stages, they have sold out KOKO, London, recorded on Later… with Jools Holland, performed at e.g. Vienna Konzerthaus, Berlin Konzerthaus and Luxembourg Philharmonie and made their Carnegie Hall debut in October 2024.
Bantu Ensemble is made up of Abel (cello and vocals), Alan Keary (electric bass), Fred Thomas (piano) and Dudù Kouaté (African percussion).
READ MORE +
CHESABA
Abel’s trio Chesaba are a forward thinking experimental African group formed in 2016, formed of Abel (cello and vocals), Alan Keary (electric bass) and Sidiki Dembélé (African percussion). Together they embrace their rich cultural influences from South Africa, Ivory Coast and Ireland and revel in improvisations and exploration to push the boundaries of their music making and draw new sounds from their instruments.
In addition to their trio performances, Chesaba perform in orchestral programmes and have performed at the BBC Proms with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Collective.
READ MORE +
ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES
In demand with the top orchestras internationally, Abel is Artistic Partner of Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and has performed with leading orchestras such as Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and this season debuts with Aurora Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Abel offers thoughtful and thought provoking programmes, often rooted in his own works and incorporating free improvisations alongside African rhythms and groove. His performances draw audiences on a musical and spiritual exploration of the ties between African and Western traditions. Abel will also premiere new concerti by two leading female composers over the coming seasons.
READ MORE +
COMPOSING
Abel is an innate music maker and has naturally found his voice in writing music both for himself, his ensembles and for other musicians. A natural outlet for his improvisatory musical process, his compositions draw from a wealth of musical experiences and influences. In 2022 he wrote his own cello concerto Four Spirits (commissioned by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony and Philharmonie Zuidnederland). In July 2021, he received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation award for his compositional work.
Abel compositions | For others |
|
|
READ MORE +
COLLABORATIONS
Abel thrives in exploratory settings, developing new projects with contemporaries and building lasting friendships and partnerships through music. He enjoys working with musicians from a wide variety of genres and collaborations past and present include:
- BCUC
- Kit Downes
- Ludovico Einaudi
- Hilary Hahn
- Gareth Lubbe
- Seckou Keita
- Simo Lagnawi / Gnawa London
- Yo-Yo Ma
- Moor Mother
- Oumou Sangaré
- Bernhard Schimpelsberger
- Vincent Ségal
- The King’s Singers
- Ballaké Sissoko
- Giovanni Sollima
READ MORE +
MUSIC
X
GET ON THE LIST!
Get exclusive information about Abel Selaocoe performances, music
premieres and special announcements
Thank you for signing up!
video
Abel Selaocoe plays Tsohle Tsohle (Live at Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg)
Tiny Desk Concert
Takamba
Abel Selaocoe - Tsohle Tsohle
Abel Selaocoe plays Bach: Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande
Abel Selaocoe - Emmanuele (Official Video)
Abel Selaocoe performs "Voices of Bantu"
Abel Selaocoe & Yo-Yo Ma record Ibuyile I'Africa / Africa is Back
ABEL SELAOCOE & BANTU ENSEMBLE ‘QHAWE / HERO’ LIVE AT KOKO
Abel Selaocoe - Ka Bohaleng / On The Sharp Side (Later with Jools Holland)
TOUR
VIEW MORE