Starlight, Strength and Spirit

By Carel Nolte

On Saturday night I found myself once again under the Johannesburg stars at RMB Starlight Classics. The gardens of the Country Club Johannesburg provided the perfect setting for a night that reminded me why this series of concerts has become such an enduring part of South Africa’s cultural landscape.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to attend both the Joburg and Cape Town (hosted at Vergelegen Wine Farm) editions and each carries its own distinct character. Joburg pulses with the energy of the city, Cape Town bathes in the majesty of the Winelands. Both, though, are unmistakably RMB: innovation balanced with tradition, boldness infused with care and that golden thread of imagination which has become the bank’s signature.

CN&CO has partnered with RMB for many years, particularly with their brand team, so yes, I’m a biased fan! But this event is not just marketing. It’s the result of a strategy that understands the creative economy is both a vital societal force and a driver of business growth. By supporting the arts, RMB has enriched South African culture, built a brand that resonates deeply, and helped grow a major business that thrives on long-term trust.

My superb and creative friend Carolynne Waterhouse was part of the team that started RMB Starlight Classics, and she – along with many others over the years – deserves huge credit for nurturing it. Yet part of what makes the event special is that it has never been about one person. It survives beyond any individual CEO, conductor or performer. It has become an institution, woven into the cultural fabric, and will continue to inspire long after all of us have moved on.

This year, RMB CEO Emrie Brown delivered a warm and thoughtful welcome. She reminded us that Starlight is about partnerships, optimism and talent. She spoke about the joy of working with passion, about “Talent Loves Company” – one of the themes of RMB’s current brand campaign – and about how the performers on stage are living proof of what happens when talent collaborates. She urged us to raise a glass of Stellar, bottled especially for the evening by Vergelegen, to toast not only the stars on stage but also the strength of partnerships and the power of optimism. It was an excellent speech, delivered with poise despite the bright lights and thousands of people looking on, and it captured the essence of what RMB has stood for across decades: creativity, partnership and hope.

Alison Badenhorst, RMB’s head of marketing, and her team deserve congratulations not only for pulling off a seamless event, but for connecting it so well to the bank’s wider work. Their current campaign, Ideas Love Company, celebrates curiosity and collaboration, qualities that Starlight embodies. And through the FirstRand Foundation, RMB also backs young musicians – some of whom were on stage, holding their own alongside world-class stars. This integration of strategy, philanthropy and artistry is one of the things I love about the RMB brand.

The programme itself was a treat. The technically challenging opening Mendelssohn piece from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of my personal favourites, was executed brilliantly. There were standing ovations for international performers, joy in the Mango Groove medley, rhythm with Mi Casa, and deep emotion in Ami Faku’s pieces. As always, the blend was perfect – music I knew and loved alongside works I was delighted to discover for the first time.

One of the co-hosts, another friend (one thing I do well is to pick the best mates) Charl du Plessis, was on fine form – as one expects from this consummate performer. His dry wit (and fabulous hair!) kept the audience smiling, and his piano playing, as always, was bloody brilliant. A Steinway master at the peak of his powers which my late friend Aletta Alberts once told me she wanted to follow around the world for a few months, attending his concerts. I think I need to honour her wish by doing that one day …

Beyond the stage, Starlight is also about community. It’s where you bump into friends and colleagues (caught up with laods of EasyEquities community!) where the audience lights their candles and sings together, where the spirit of South Africa feels alive and strong.

I loved having Janet Fox van der Poel as my plus one this year – once my teacher 35 years ago, now my partner in education recruitment, and always a fountain of wisdom and a great friend. We caught up with our hosts Carolynne (when she wasn’t busy, quitely behind the scenes fine-tuning things) and Wimpie, laughed with the lovely Carolyn Steyn, Juanita James, Timothy Moloi and Brian Heathfield (Carolyn’s producer on her show which you know I listen to most nights). I was delighted to bump into my friend Michele Katz too – it was her first Starlight and she was blown away.

These moments of connection, old friends and new memories, are part of what make the evening unforgettable. Seeing special Carolyn dance with joy after the difficult time she has had this year, made me most happy – and that is the power of the arts. Making us happy. Restoring our souls. Giving us hope.

The divine and super smart Susie Goodman and her husband Mark were there too, and Suzie and I chatted about all the fun things Strauss & Co and EasyEquities are planning for the upcoming Woordfees. Lekker to have Strauss’s executive chair Frank Kilbourn there also – and on his birthday!

Colette Wynne and the RMB events team, with their attention to detail, keep raising the bar each year. From the singing of the national anthem to the last notes of the night, it was a proudly South African moment of inspiration, resilience and hope.

RMB Starlight Classics is more than a concert. It is a reminder of what we can achieve when creativity, business and community come together. It’s a celebration of talent, of possibility, and of a country that, despite its many challenges, continues to surprise and inspire. Long may the stars shine. Thank you team RMB.

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