The Eastern Cape is in for a musical treat
as the National Youth Orchestra will perform Sasol Concerts in Port Elizabeth
and Grahamstown during the National Arts Festival.
The 2013 National Youth Orchestra will be
conducted by internationally renowned Gérard Korsten and concerts will be held
at the Feather Market Centre in Port Elizabeth and as part of the National Arts
Festival at the Guy Butler Theatre in Grahamstown. On the programme are Dvorak’s
Symphony No. 7 and Hindemith’s Symphonic
Metamorphosis, and also the premiere of a SAMRO-commissioned piece by South
African composer Robert Fokkens.
Orchestra courses are held throughout the
year, but the Sasol-sponsored winter course is a highlight with 150
participants and a wide selection of top musicians from across the globe. The
international faculty provides world-class teaching and mentoring for
individual instruments, as well as tuition in subjects as diverse as instrument
repair, composition, arts administration and ensemble playing.
“Sasol has been supporting the South
African National Youth Orchestra Foundation’s initiatives since 1979. We are
committed to the development of the arts and culture in South Africa and
believe in our young talent. The Sasol course attracts top-quality musicians
from across the country and the public performances delight audiences year
after year,” said Richard Hughes, Sasol’s Sponsorship Manager.
Selected entirely on merit, top-notch
participants in the National Youth Orchestra programmes come from across South
Africa. Participants are selected to form part of one of two orchestras: the
National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Concert Orchestra.
Three-quarters of South African orchestral
musicians in the symphony orchestras today have played in the National Youth
Orchestra, and many of the alumni are now professionals in top orchestras
around the world. The National Youth Orchestra was founded almost half a
century ago, and in its history it has hosted annual orchestra courses,
concerts, international and national tours as well as workshops for young
musicians. It has become one of South Africa’s most successful music
institutions.
Sakhile Humbane, a flautist from Durban,
said that he has had the privilege of being part of the National Youth
Orchestra for the past two years. “I've learnt a tremendous amount about
orchestral and wind ensemble playing that I would never have received from
anywhere else in South Africa, not to mention the amazing friends I've had the
opportunity to make. Nationals are awesome.”
Another orchestra member Kobus Dippenaar, a
bassoonist from Potchefstroom said, “This is the most wonderful experience I
have had thus far in my life. Fantastic music, wonderful friends and the
opportunity to see new places.”
In Grahamstown, the National Youth
Orchestra will perform in the Guy Butler
Theatre on June 29 at 11h00 and the Concert Orchestra will perform at the
Sports Hall, Kingswood College, on June 28 at 15h00. Booking is at Computicket.
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