Abel Selaocoe and Bantu Ensemble - Ashville College

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe brings his boundary breaking artistry to Harrogate this June, for our opening event of the festival and his only North of England concert this summer. He’ll be joined on stage by his vibrant Bantu Ensemble – Alan Keary on bass, pianist Fred Thomas, and Dudù Kouaté on percussion.

Renowned for reimagining classical music and redefining the parameters of the cello, Selaocoe moves effortlessly between genres, drawing on classical, traditional and jazz influences to create performances that feel both deeply rooted and thrillingly new.

Following their acclaimed Glastonbury debut in 2025, Selaocoe and the Ensemble tour the UK and Europe this season. His international profile continues to rise and in 2023 he was awarded the RPS Instrumentalist Award for his performances which “blaze with creation, sending audiences home on a high”.

Formed in 2022, the Bantu Ensemble create constantly changing programmes shaped by Selaocoe’s compositions and music that inspires them. With no fixed repertoire, every performance is unique, blurring boundaries between African heritage and Western classical music and create something entirely their own.

The concert will last c.75-90 minutes with no interval. Please select your preferred seating band, then choose the number of standard tickets. Seating within each band is unreserved

Dynamic. Visionary. Unforgettable.