Amaoti Community Hall: Thursday 12 April
Siphosethu Primary School, Ntuzuma: Friday 13 April
Nelson Mandela Youth Centre, Chatsworth: Sat 14 April
The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra is as at home performing in community halls as it is performing in concert halls – embarking on regular education and development outreach programmers to proactively introduce the beauty of orchestra music to all of the people of KZN.
This week, the orchestra is spending Thursday morning at Amaoti Community Hall; Friday morning performing at Siphosethu Primary School, Ntuzuma and Saturday afternoon from 1pm at the Chatsworth Youth Centre for an event to honour the Mandela legacy – Madiba’s 100 year commemoration, and honouring the passing of Winnie Mandela.
All three concerts will be free of charge to learners, students, residents and music lovers of the respective communities. The orchestra is working closely with the ward councillors to facilitate extensive audiences attending these concerts
Outside of the KZN Philharmonic’s World Symphony Series and other high-profile public concerts, they also have an extensive and geographically far reaching programme of taking the orchestra to schools across the province to introduce primary and high school learners to the concept of music appreciation. A series of well-scripted programmes introduce children to orchestral instruments and the power of music thereby allowing learners to better understand the complexities, benefits and accessibility of an orchestra. Every year the orchestra performs at over 100 schools throughout the province. They perform in the cities, suburbs, rural communities and in the townships, touching the lives of in excess of 42 000 pupils across KwaZulu-Natal.
At the Educational concerts, the programme will include the classic music tale which introduces the instruments of the orchestra in the guise of a children’s story, Peter and the Wolf which can be narrated either in English or isiZulu. It has been translated by master story-teller, Dr Gcina Mhlophe, and will be narrated by Nompumelelo Ndlovu.
As well as performing Peter and the Wolf the educational repertoire covers music from familiar themes. The programme included popular soundtracks which range from our national anthem to James Bond, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean and Pharrell William’s clap-along ditty, Happy.
The concerts this week will come to a close with different school choirs being accompanied by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional orchestra of 70 full-time musicians which enjoys a reputation for innovative excellence among South African orchestras and has proved to be a formidable resource countrywide. It is dedicated to delivering the importance of music in South Africa through its education and development programmes. The KZN Philharmonic prioritises outreach initiatives: “Community Engagement” is one of the orchestra’s three areas of focus, along with “Excellence” and “Innovation.”
“While serving South Africa with distinctly professional orchestral performances, the KZN Philharmonic also dedicates much of its time and energy to enriching local communities through its education and development and outreach programmes. When they are not performing symphony concerts, the orchestra implements an extensive education and development programme in which they introduce learners to the joys of classical music,” explains Bongani Tembe: Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the KZN Philharmonic.
For more details regarding these concerts please contact KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s offices on 031 369 9438, or visit www.kznphil.org.za, or email reception@kznphil.org.za.