Music in the Mountains opens with a powerful gala evening celebrating South Africa's rich musical heritage. In Hope, Heritage and Harmony the Drakensberg Boys Choir presents a programme that honours the traditions of boy-choir singing while embracing the vibrant diversity of South African song. Audiences can expect a moving journey through choral works by composers such as Scarlatti, Schumann, and Whitacre, as well as African repertoire by Mbuso Ndlovu and Mzwandile Mabuza, and contemporary works that speak to resilience, unity, and shared identity, such as Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time. This opening concert sets the tone for the festival - uplifting, dignified, and deeply rooted in hope.