The 4th Johannesburg International Mozart Festival (JIMF) will take place from January 27 to February 19, 2012 in Johannesburg, Artslink reports.

Originally organized in 2006 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birthday, the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival has developed into a highly successful and well-loved annual classical music event.

Highlights on the 2012 program of performances include distinguished young South African artists such as Shannon Mowday, and Quattro Fusion, with previous Standard Bank Young Artist award winners Melanie Scholtz and Samson Diamond performing with Melvin Peters and Godfrey Mgcina.

A number of high-caliber international artists join their South African colleagues, to make music and inspire a younger generation of musicians. Coming from the UK is Brazilian Cristina Ortiz, whose natural musicality and masterful craftsmanship have ensured her a place among the most respected pianists in the world. Throughout her extensive career she has performed with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, and the Chicago Symphony, Philharmonia and Royal Concertgebouw orchestras amongst many others. Other renowned musicians featured include conductor Kristjan Järvi, Swiss recorder virtuoso Maurice Steger, New York-based Armenian Violinist Misha Simonyan, German/Japanese Solo Violinist Mirijam Contzen, Italian flautist Massimo Mercelli, and French organist Daniel Roth.