Western Cape Youth Music Festival celebrates 41st year

The annual concert presented by Artscape and the CPO in collaboration with Distell Foundation serves as a launching pad for accomplished young classical music instrumentalists and singers, in playing on a professional concert stage with a symphony orchestra.

Arjan Tien conducts the orchestra in a varied and exciting programme with the musicians who were selected from over 50 participants in auditions. They are considered to be amongst the finest of the Western Cape's young up and coming classical music talent. Their ages range from 14 to 26 years and include, in programme order:

• Tatiana Thaele (22) flute,
  
• Jeffrey Armstrong (15) violin,
  
• Lize van der Merwe (16) soprano sax,
  
• Noluvuyiso Mpofu (21) soprano,
  
• Levy Sekgapane (21) tenor,
  
• Victoria Stevens (21) soprano,
  
• Carla van der Merwe (21) clarinet,
  
• Jane Yu (22) piano,
  
• Henley Jun (14) piano,
  
• Jessie Brand (15) violin,
  
• Nomsa Mpofu (21) soprano,
  
• Siyabulela Ntlale (26) baritone,
  
• Janel Speelman (24) soprano,
  
• Nkosana Soko (19) flute, and
  
• Roelof Temmingh (15) piano.

Representing the adjudicating panel are; Alastair Cockburn (Artscape), Ronnie Samaai (member of the CPO board of directors) and Aviva Pelham well-known opera star and director.

The main criteria for candidates are that they are bona fide music students, that they perform at a very high standard and are resident or studying in the Western Cape. The age restriction for participants is 10 to 23 years for instrumentalists and up to the age of 27 for singers. Because the emphasis of the festival is a celebration of young musical talent and not a competition, the appeal of the works presented, as well as good variety in the overall programme content, plays an important part in the final selection of these soloists.

As the emphasis of the festival is a celebration of young musical talent and not a competition, the appeal of the works presented, as well as good variety in the overall programme content, plays an important part in the final selection of these soloists.

Different repertoire

According to Alastair Cockburn this year's programme includes a somewhat different repertoire where several of our young participants are performing some very attractive, appealing, engaging, but less-often performed repertoire, as well as at least one new work possibly never performed before in South Africa, a Saxophone Concerto by Villa-Lobos.

"It is good to see and hear our young participants exploring the vast classical music repertoire that exists, and presenting more and more variety.

"It is a young musician's dream to perform with a real symphony orchestra. There is something so scintillating. These young performers are getting a chance of a lifetime to perform their repertoire in a professional environment," says Cockburn.

Both the classical and jazz festivals are generously supported by Distell Foundation.

Tickets cost R80. Pensioners and students R40 with valid ID, Scholars 5-18 R40 and Block bookings of 10 or more less 10%. Book through Artscape Dial-a-Seat +27 (0)21 421 7695, Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers outlets, or online www.computicket.com.

For more information contact Debbie Damons on +27 (0)21 410 9915.