Festival Musicians
The SAMA -nominated Cape Town Tango Ensemble specialises in the Argentinean Tango, covering various styles withing this genre, ranging from the old-fashioned traditional tango style from the first half of 20th century to Tango Nuevo.
Founded in 1996 as an Accordion & Piano Duo by acclaimed accordionist Stanislav Angelov, the duo was joined in 1999 by Basil Heald on Double Bass, and a year later popular violinist Jacek Domagala also joined the ensemble to shape the perfect combination for live Tango music. In 2004, Charles Lazar took over the Double Bass position. During the same year Stanislav added his first Bandoneón to his collection of instruments, and consequently visited Buenos Aires in 2005 to study with Bandoneón Maestros Ricardo Fiorio and Hugo Satorre.
The CT Tango Ensemble's repertoire consists of original scores by Piazzolla (much of which is for quintet, which often leads to including guitar maestro James Grace in the line-up), Horacio Salgan, Angelo Burli, Julian Plaza and Roberto Pansera, as well as their own arrangements of music by Piazzolla, Gardel, Troilo, Greco, Villoldo and others.
Their repertoire also includes original compositions by Stanislav, Charles and Albert. The CT Tango Ensemble has worked with the international tango singers Adriana Edwards, Juan Simon & Gustavo Fasani, as well as Mezzo-Soprano Violina Anguelov (well-known Opera vocalist in South Africa). The ensemble released their first CD "El Tango en Africa" (Tango in Africa) in 2003, where the group explored the fusion between African Rhythms and sounds and the Tango.
Leon Albert Oosthuizen (Accordion)
From an early age, Leon excelled as a pianist with Unisa merit awards, honorary rolls, SABC recordings and eisteddfod prizes.
After obtaining the Advanced Certificate for Accordion with distinction from Trinity College London, he received a Special International Award at the PIF International Accordion Prize Festival in Castelfidardo, Italy.
His settings of Uys Krige poems led to a one-man show: “Goue Eeue”.
He has formed music groups "Sibanye", "Cape Town Scottish Dance Band" and collaborated in "Anteros", "Christine & The Kilts", "Tango SA" and theatre musicals "Music Moods", "Altyd Jonker", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Prinz Bettliegend".
He has attended the RSCDS Summer School in St. Andrews, Scotland and the Dutch Jazz Accordion Summer Course in Arnhem, the Netherlands.
He also performed as an international artist throughout FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
His song, "It's a beautiful game", sung by members of the Qatar Youth Choir, was chosen by Indian channel MediaOne as their main World Cup song.
During 2023 in the U.S., he performed at Central Park, recorded for a rock album in Atlanta, Georgia, and assisted at A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin.
Since 2024 he has been serving as president of SAFRA – South African Free Reed Association, a non-profit organization promoting free reed instruments in South Africa and pre-selecting South Africans for participation at the world championships.
Leon is also an accordion tutor.
Recent highlights include performing with international artists Stef Bos, Amira Willighagen and LJAO accordion orchestra from Germany, hosting the World Accordion Day 2024 & 2025 and Konsertina & Trekklavier is GROOT 2025 concerts, and performing at KKNK 2025 with the critically-acclaimed production Goue Boere silwer tango.
Corinne Sanderson (Piano)
Corinne started playing the piano at the age of 3 with kindergarten songs.
She obtained her B.Mus degree with saxophone and piano as first instruments, and also her Master's degree in Music at the University of Stellenbosch.
An experienced ensemble musician, she has been involved with several groups:
Hugo Lambrechts Swingsters - first saxophone
Nerina women's residence choir group – leader
University of Stellenbosch Saxophone Quarters - first alto saxophone
Stellenbosch University's "Symphonic Winds"
Church band - vocals, keyboards, saxophone, clarinet
"Classical Sounds" Philharmonic Orchestra at the Helderberg Congregation NG Church
LJAO Landes Jugend Akkordeon Orchester Nordhein-Westfalen of Germany concerts - guest artist
She has also received several awards:
Stellenbosch Eisteddfod: Darryl Walters Cup for highest score in saxophone
Stellenbosch University: Merit Bursary for Academic Achievement, the J.S. Marais Music Bursary and the Anton Hartman Piano Bursary
She is currently a music teacher at Beaumont Primary School in Somerset West.
Marelize Zeeman - Theron (Violin)
Marelize is a Cape Town-based violinist and music educator.
After school in Pretoria, she studied overseas and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Cum Laude from the Conservatorium Artez in The Netherlands. She has performed with leading orchestras and ensembles both locally and abroad.
Marelize is an active performer at functions, festivals, and corporate events. She is a passionate music teacher at Elkanah House, Parklands College, and in her private studio. Her love for music shines through both her performances and her teaching.