THE ACADEMY FOR KZNPO

The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra added an exciting new element to its ongoing Education and Development programmes with its collaboration with The Academy - a programme of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.

The Academy’s two-year programme supports the finest post-graduate musicians as they develop professional careers as top-quality performers, innovative programmers, and dedicated teachers who are fully engaged with the communities in which they live and work. Fellows of the two-year Academy programme - chosen for their musicianship, but also for their leadership qualities and commitment to music education - are graduates of some of the best music schools in the United States, including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Eastman School of Music, the Juilliard School, Mannes College, New England Conservatory, and the Yale School of Music.

All members of the performance arm of The Academy, called Ensemble ACJW after its primary supporting organisations, are alumni or current fellows of The Academy. Both as individuals and as members of the Ensemble ACJW, these performers have earned accolades worldwide for their innovative programming and superb musicianship.

“Carnegie Hall is delighted to be partnering with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra to bring The Academy’s alumni fellows to South Africa for this vibrant, month-long residency,” said Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. “I first had the opportunity to work with Bongani Tembe in my role as Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, developing a major London event as a tribute to South Africa. I’ve long admired his phenomenal work at the KZNPO. We saw this latest project, involving outstanding young musicians from our Academy programme, as an opportunity to work with a partner who genuinely shares Carnegie Hall’s vision and belief in the power of artistic excellence, education, and community work.”

Commenting on the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s collaboration with The Academy, Chief Executive and Artistic Director Bongani Tembe said; “The Academy’s programmes dovetail naturally with the KZN Philharmonic’s own numerous education and development initiatives, most notably with our Orchestra’s National Cadetship Programme, which is designed to harness South Africa’s finest young orchestral musicians.”

The kindred spirits of the institutions is most evident in their collaborative partnership with the Bochabela String Orchestra, one of South Africa’s most promising educational initiatives for young string players, some of whom join the KZN Philharmonic’s Cadet programme and eventually become full-fledged members of the Orchestra.

Four excellent musicians comprising a string quartet are currently in South Africa on a five week stay representing The Academy: violinists Angelia Cho and Joanna Marie Frankel, violist Brenton Caldwell and cellist Caitlin Sullivan. They have appeared twice with the KZNPO – in a World Symphony Series Winter Season concert and a Sinfonia Concert - and have performed at Howard College Theatre.

Visitors to the 2011 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown will also have an opportunity to see the quartet in collaboration with the KZNPO for their Symphony Concert at the Monument Theatre under the baton of Hungarian conductor Tibor Bogányi, and when the KZN Philharmonic provides the music for Cape Town City Ballet’s production of Swan Lake.

The Academy’s South African residency culminates in their continued partnership with the KZN Philharmonic as they perform in the International Olympic Committee’s Gala Concert in Durban on July 5 at The Playhouse.

More information about The Academy and Ensemble ACJW at www.acjw.org and on the KZPO by calling 031 369 9438 or click on the banner advert at the top of this page.