National Youth Orchestra turns 50

The South African National Youth Orchestra plans to celebrate its Golden Jubilee with three year-end concerts featuring a diverse range of symphonic music, ranging from classical to jazz to contemporary music. The national orchestra consists of dedicated musicians aged between 15 and 25, who all have experience playing in provincial orchestras across the country.

 

This is a notably significant year for the orchestra as a number of its members receive their South African colours as the country’s 'Proteas of Music'. As the icon of classical youth music in the country, The South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation plays an important part in developing and mentoring talented, emerging young musicians.

 

Developing young musicians

 

In partnership with Sasol, the South African National Youth Orchestra hosts annual Sasol orchestra courses to develop and equip young musicians to perform in professional orchestras, with optimal functionality, equipping them for their futures in music.

 

Inspired by her involvement and participation in this year’s orchestra, young violinist Tessa Campbell stated, “Often it’s the case that children don’t have the opportunities to be exposed to classical music. I would love to teach in underprivileged places in South Africa one day.”

 

Award-winning performers

 

At the Kirstenbosch concert in Cape Town on 30 November, world-famous soprano Barbara Hendricks, Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Magnus Lindgren, local bass guitarist Concord Nkabinde, and South African National Youth Orchestra alumnus and drummer Rob Watson, will be performing a diverse range of music ranging from classical favourites to new South African compositions. This concert will be conducted by top young European conductor, Fredrik Burstedt.

 

Grammy Award winning Osmo Vänskä, a Finnish conductor and musical director of the Minnesota Orchestra, who has worked with many of the world’s leading orchestra’s will be conducting the two remaining concerts on 6 and 7 December, where the orchestra will perform Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

 

The South African National Youth Orchestra will be joined by alumni from across the 50 years of the orchestra’s existence. The first concert, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, will be held at the Cape Town City Hall, followed by the Johannesburg concert at the iconic Regina Mundi Church in Soweto. These concerts are supported by Sasol, the City of Cape Town and the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

 

Concert details:

 

Barbara Hendricks with the South African National Youth Orchestra

Cape Town: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Sunday, 30 November 2014 at 3pm

Bookings through Webtickets

 

Osmo Vänskä conducting The Rite of Spring with the South African National Youth Orchestra

Cape Town: The City Hall, Saturday, 6 December 2014 at 8pm

Bookings through Computicket

 

Johannesburg: Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, Sunday, 7 December 2014 at 3pm

Bookings through Computicket