CPO YOUTH ON THE RISE

With 78 students, 16 conductors and teachers, the Music Academy has become an integral part of the life of young musicians and proof that the CPO improves the quality of life for young people in underserviced communities in a safe learning environment. This is unparalleled in the South African music world.

CPO YOUTH ON THE RISE

The CPO’s youth development programme started 2023 on a high — a new management team in place with the manager Wilmie Jooste and co-ordinator Nolizwi Monica Dadase, a search for a new conductor for the youth orchestra, new premises for the Music Academy at Gardens Commercial High School, and opening the Suidoosterfees.

ALEXANDER EXCHANGE FOR EMERGING MUSICIANS

Four young Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra musicians have been awarded the Alexander International Music Award for Emerging Musicians in the second part of the cultural collaboration funded by Alexander Valentin between the junge norddeutsche philharmonie (jnp) in Germany and the CPO.

The musicians who auditioned successfully are Nicci Botha (violin, 19, of Pinelands), Ashlin Grobbelaar, (cello, 24 of Mowbray), Chad Groepies, (trumpet, 25, of Mitchell’s Plain), and Sigqibo “Gibbs” Tokwe (bassoon, 22 of Gqeberha but at UCT in residence in Claremont). All are members of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and students at UCT, and all perform as ad hoc musicians with the CPO. After auditions open to all in the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, they were selected to attend the jnp summer camp in Germany in August. Next March, four young jnp musicians will join the CPO in a concert as part of the exchange.

For Mr Valentin, this is a chance to assist and promote young talented musicians to progress in their chosen careers by expanding their repertoire and being exposed to other cultures where music is of paramount importance.

Nicci Botha

Ashlin Grobbelaar

Chad Groepies

Sigqibo “Gibbs” Tokwe

“I believe that talented young people from under-resourced communities deserve all the support they can get. I have been involved for more than twenty years in social projects in Honduras in Central America assisting young people to achieve great lives through education. I am most impressed with how the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is committed to education and development and believe that together we can achieve a great deal. This all expenses paid exchange is planned as the forerunner of many and the first part of a collaboration between me and the CPO that will benefit other young people in both worlds exchanging experiences.”

Marlene Schleicher, managing director of the jnp, who visited South Africa in February to meet the youth orchestra, was delighted by the calibre of its players.

“After listening to the audition tapes, we had no hesitation in inviting these four young people who will blend in so well with the musicians of the jnp who are without question some of the best young players in Germany. We look forward to an excellent summer camp and concerts.”

For the CPO’s CEO Louis Heyneman, the commitment by Mr Valentin is crucial to the youth programme, in particular in the townships.

“His support shows us that our educational work is valued and we welcome him as a long term committed partner of the CPO.”

MASIDLALE

Masidlale is extremely vibrant, with sixty learners in nine schools. Nolizwi says for a while all the learners were brought into Artscape for lessons but now that only happens once a month so the young learners continue to be exposed to other environments, while the CPO team of teachers — Tembisa Notshongontshi, Siyatemba Nteta, Snazo Eleni, Nathan Adonis, John Minnaar — travel to the rest.