National Youth Orchestra to blow PE away!

MyPR: National Youth Orchestra to blow PE away!:

The National Youth Wind Orchestra 2012 in Simon’s Town. Photo: Sarah Schafer

The National Youth Orchestra Winter Course will be held in Port Elizabeth in July, with performances at the National Arts Festival, Kingswood College, and the Savoy Theatre.

Hundreds of young musicians audition for a coveted place in the South African National Youth Orchestra and a select few are chosen to form the green and gold national team each year. Members include players from communities all over the country, and are chosen on merit through two auditions. The National Youth Orchestra’s legacy spans over half a century, and is far reaching with representation of alumni in top professional orchestras in South Africa and across the globe.

The National Youth Orchestra Winter Course will take place from 30 June – 9 July in Port Elizabeth. This year they will be performing an array of Fantasia-inspired music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite to Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and will be conducted by National Youth Orchestra alumnus, Prof. David Scarr. The course is made possible through funding by the National Arts Festival, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Music Department, National Lotteries Commission and the SAMRO Foundation.

Performances are on

7 July at 13:00 at the Fountain Foyer at the National Arts Festival (free entrance);
8 July at 12:30 at Nombulelo Hall, Grahamstown (free entrance);
8 July at 18:30 at Kingswood College (donation at the door);
and a Sunday Funday Concert on 9 July at 15:00 at the Savoy Theatre in Port Elizabeth (tickets available through Computicket).

The National Youth Orchestra would love every driven, talented and deserving musician to be able to attend the orchestra course. As almost 60% of the participants need financial assistance, they are appealing to companies and individuals to contribute towards the bursary fund. Benefits of a sponsorship include knowing that you are contributing to the national development of our country, and a variety of branding opportunities. For more information please contact the Managing Director, Sophia Welz, on team@sanyo.org.za or call 083 272 2117.

The National Youth Orchestra courses create exciting performance opportunities for young musicians to interact with music professionals, and are the perfect way for finding pathways to professional careers, bringing people together, and forging lifelong friendships through the shared love of music.