Palissander, one of South Africa's premier chamber choirs, is an independent amateur choir of international standing that was formed in 1992. The choir's core values are passion, abundance, joy, respect and acceptance.

The name Palissander is a reference to the fourth volume of poetry by the Afrikaans poet Boerneef, entitled Palissandryne. In the opening poem of this volume Boerneef writes of his recorder of palissander wood (a precious dark brown wood, related to jacaranda wood) that plays 'palissandertaal' (palissander language). Later in the volume the poet uses the word 'palissandertaal' repeatedly as a synonym for music.

Sarita Hauptfleisch, who still conducts the choir, founded Palissander with the purpose of making soul music. This has developed into the choir becoming an ambassador for love and peace to both local and overseas communities. The choir achieves this by engaging the audience not only musically, but also intellectually and emotionally through programmes bound together by central themes. This converts a choir concert into a spiritual experience for all.

The theme approach enables an extremely diverse repertoire to be drawn together into a cohesive whole. Since 2004 the annual themes have addressed topics such as peace, democracy, tolerance, our response to HIV/AIDS and respect for the earth. Palissander's 2011 theme focuses on how the four elements – earth, air, water, and fire – can nurture us as we seek our place in the world.

Palissander has been associating itself with organisations that care for vulnerable children and youth. In 2006 the choir received the South African Choral Society Award for the best contribution to community development through choral music. In 2008 Palissander decided to associate itself formally with Heartbeat, a non-governmental organisation that reaches out to orphaned and vulnerable children through direct and indirect interventions. Two vulnerable youth, together with their case worker, again accompanied the choir on its tour to Barcelona and France in July 2011.

Palissander has to date released seven CDs. It is based in Pretoria and currently consists of 26 members.