29 Jul 2010 2010 sees the Youth Music Festival (YMF) celebrating its 39^th year with 12 extraordinarily talented young classical music instrumentalists and singers who will perform with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) on Saturday 21 August at 19.30 in the Artscape Theatre.  This annual classical music festival is presented by Artscape and the CPO and serves as a launching pad for young accomplished musicians in playing on a professional concert stage.

 

South African born Conrad van Alphen, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Sinfonia Rotterdam, will conduct the varied exciting two hour programme with musicians selected from over 45 participants in auditions. Their ages range from 10 to 25 years and considered to be amongst the finest of the Western Cape’s young up and coming classical music talent. They include, in programme order  :

Samantha van Gysen (15) Violin, Sally Jane Minter (22) Flute, Siphesihle Mdena (24) Tenor, Lynelle Kenned (22) Soprano, Nicholas Bosman (10) Violin, Meyer Scholtz (18) Clarinet, Melissa Tu (17) Piano, Danielle Rossouw (12) Clarinet, Ryan Frank Kierman (20) Trombone, Anele Mhlahlo (18) Violin, Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi (25) Soprano and Lourens Fick (20) Piano.

The adjudicating panel is represented by Alastair Cockburn (Artscape),  Cape Town Conductor George Michie and  Ronnie Samaai (Member of the CPO Board of Directors) for all the auditions and Marisa Marchio (Cape Town Opera) for the vocal auditions.

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 23 for instrumentalists and 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.

Alastair Cockburn said that apart from a few old favourites some exciting new works were presented at the auditions this year, in particular a Violin Concerto by Giovanni Battista Viotti and a Clarinet Concerto by Anton Dimler. Neither of which the panel had heard before.

‘It is a young musician's dream to perform with a real symphony orchestra’, said Cockburn. ‘There is something so scintillating about such an experience and much of the biggest repertoire and most exciting to listen to and perform is in the concerto field (instrument with orchestra) or in the opera field (voice and orchestra).   Very few ever get this opportunity, even as professionals.   It's only the top performers that can persuade orchestral managements to "give" them a concert.  A small number of previous participants have made it on the concert stages of the world and these young musicians are most fortunate to be working with an international conductor like Conrad van Alphen.’

George Michie added:   ‘It is encouraging how with each successive year this competition brings to light a new crop of talent of extraordinarily high standard, and is especially rewarding when participants from previous years return to demonstrate increasing levels of virtuosity and maturity of performance.  For the adjudicators, it becomes increasingly difficult selecting the few who will be offered the opportunity to showcase their talents, before an audience, accompanied by the CPO.’

Said Ronnie Samaai, ‘We are extremely encouraged by the number of entries this year and by the standard of performance which is no doubt due to the quality of teaching they receive in the Western Cape.  I have been working on the panel for the past 8 years and it was most rewarding to see a good representation of wind players (woodwind as well as brass) among the entries.’

The inception of the YMF dates back to the opening of Artscape (formerly the Nico Malan Theatre) in 1971. In that year, an orchestra was formed by David Tidboald to service the various performing arts genres (opera, ballet etc) attached to the new theatre centre.   He also had the vision to start the youth music festival concept whereby young instrumental soloists and singers would be given the opportunity of performing annually with a professional orchestra. In 2003, on the initiative of the Artscape Audience Development and Education Department, the Youth Jazz Music Festival came on board and was presented as an extension of the original concept.

This year’s Youth Jazz Festival was held on 18^th June and celebrated five bands who since the inception of the mentorship programme in 2005  succeeded against all odds and demonstrated to a broader community the value of a lifetime opportunity. They are ESP Band, The Belhar Music Collective, Little Giants, Touch and The Incredibles. Band members came from areas around the Western Cape. This year the festival collaborated with the ‘Bavaria Meets Western Cape’ expo 2010 and the jazz ensembles Brassta La Vista from Bavaria, Germany, shared the stage with Artscape’s bands.

Both the Classical and Jazz festivals are generously supported by the Distell Foundation for the Performing Arts.

The classical musical festival is sold out every year with enthusiastic supporters and lovers of classical music so best to book immediately. Tickets cost R60. Book through, Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695, Computicket, on line www.computicket.com and Shoprite Checkers outlets. For more information contact Debbie Damons on 021 410 9915.

PROGRAMME - Saturday 21st August 2010 at 19h30

Conducted by Conrad van Alphen

1                    Violin Concerto in A minor, No 22 - 1st movement

Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755 - 1824)
Soloist:  Samantha van Gysen

2                     Flute Concertino in D, Op 107

Cécile Chaminade  (1857 - 1944)
Soloist:  Sally Jane Minter

3                    Aria, Konstanze, Konstanze  from “Die Entführung aus dem Serail”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  (1756 - 1792) 
Tenor Soloist:  Siphesihle Mdena

4                    ‘Cabaletta’, Ah! Non Giunge from “La Sonnambula”

Vincenzo Bellini  (1801 - 1835)
Soprano Soloist:   Lynelle Kenned

5                    Violin Concertino in G, Op 24 - 3rd movement

Oskar Rieding  (1840 -1918)
Soloist:  Nicholas Bosman

6                    Clarinet Concerto No 2 in E flat - 3rd movement

Carl Maria von Weber  (1786 -1826)
Soloist:  Meyer Scholtz

7                    Piano Concerto in G - 1st movement

Maurice Ravel  (1875 - 1937)

Soloist:  Melissa Tu

INTERVAL

8                    Clarinet Concerto in B flat  - 3rd movement

Anton Dimler  (1753 - 1819)
Soloist:   Danielle Rossouw

9                    Trombone Concertino Op 4 - 1st & 2nd movements

Ferdinand David   (1810 - 1873)
Soloist:   Ryan Frank Kierman

10                Violin Concerto No 4 in G - 1st movement

Franz Joseph Haydn  (1732 - 1809)
Soloist:   Anele Mhlahlo

11                Aria,  Ah! Tardai Troppo…  from Linda di Chamounix

Gaetano Donizetti  (1797 - 1848)
Soprano Soloist:   Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi

12                “Totentanz” for Piano and Orchestra

Franz Liszt  (1811 - 1886)
Soloist:   Lourens Fick

BACKGROUND OF THE FESTIVAL

The inception of the Youth Music Festival dates back to the opening of Artscape (formerly the Nico Malan Theatre) in 1971.  In that year, an orchestra was formed by David Tidboald to service the various performing arts genres (opera, ballet etc.) attached to the new theatre centre.   He also had the vision to start the youth music festival concept whereby young instrumental soloists and singers would be given the opportunity of performing annually with a professional orchestra.   When the old CAPAB orchestra and the CTSO amalgamated in 1997, the YMF continued under the joint banner of the “new” orchestra and Artscape.

Previously participants were not allowed in one year to re-audition for the following two years, but recently this policy was dropped to encourage outstanding talent to get further opportunities to play.  If they're amongst the best, they could play two or more years running.

YOUTH JAZZ MUSIC FESTIVAL

In 2003, on the initiative of the Artscape Audience Development and Education Department, the Youth Jazz Music Festival also came on board and was presented as an extension of the original concept – i.e. two concerts, one classical and one jazz, on the same weekend.   This year, both concerts once again form part of the larger Youth Music Festival concept.

The Youth Jazz Festival took place on 18th June. It differed this year as it acknowledged five bands that since the inception of the mentorship programme in 2005 had succeeded against all odds and demonstrated to a broader community the value of a lifetime opportunity. The bands included ESP Band, The Belhar Music Collective, Little Giants, Touch and The Incredibles. Band members came from areas around the Western Cape. Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Macassar, Gugulethu, Nyanga, New Cross Roads, Belhar, Kuilsrivier, Northpine, Hanover Park, Manenburg, Retreat, Southfield, Elfindale, Bergvliet, Woodstock, Silverton, Athlone and Rosebank.

This year the festival also collaborated with the ‘Bavaria Meets Western Cape’ expo 2010 and the jazz ensembles Brassta La Vista from Bavaria, Germany shared the stage with the Artscape featured bands.

Artscape acknowledged the mentors who prepared these young musicians for the challenging arts arena they entered, instilling in them respect for the role models who paved the way for them. These mentors include :  Melanie Scholtz, Keith Tabisher, Kevin Gibson, George Werner, Camillo Lombard, Kevin Gibson, Frank Paco, Lucas Khumalo, Andrew Lilley, Wesley Rustin, André Swartz, Hotep Galeta, Alvin and Errol Dyers and the late Alex van Heerden and Joe Mthimka.

SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship was made available for several years by the former Oudemeester Foundation for the Performing Arts. With the amalgamation of the Distillers Corporation and Stellenbosch Farmers Winery in the year 2000, that sponsorship came to an end.   However, in 2001, the newly merged Distell agreed to reinstate sponsorship for the event and this has helped enormously in ensuring the financial sustainability of the festival for the future.

ENTRANTS

Each year there are between forty to sixty entrants that participate in the auditions. This year there were over 50 candidates.

SELECTION OF FINAL SOLOISTS

An adjudication panel assesses each performer - each participant plays their chosen work using piano reduction of the orchestral accompaniment.   There are so many good young musicians that the challenge is to not only choose the best, but also to come up with a very listenable and interesting variety of works, contrasting in style and appealing to a general audience as well.  Opportunity is given to many more than possible because of the high standards.  Who to leave out is always the most difficult task.  This leads to some disappointments but it is all part of the learning curve of taking part in competitions and festivals.  Ultimately the panel of adjudicators come to an agreement and the concerts always prove to be very exciting and of an incredibly high standard. Many of the young performers are quite phenomenal.

PROFILES  :

CONRAD VAN ALPHEN - Conductor

The South African-born conductor Conrad Van Alphen has delighted audiences and musicians alike in his performances of the orchestral repertoire. He is Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Sinfonia Rotterdam and has moulded this orchestra to one of the best orchestras in The Netherlands.   From 2005 to 2009 Mr van Alphen held the position of chief conductor of the State Philharmonic Orchestra Kislovodsk in Russia, where he received an award for his contribution to the Arts in South Russia by the Ministry of Culture.

MUSICIANS - in programme order

SAMANTHA VAN GYSEN -  Violin (15) Plumstead

Samantha is a pupil of Prof Jack de Wet. She attends Reddam House College, Constantia, on a musical scholarship. In 2005 she won first prize at the Di Konokono Arts and Culture Festival and National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA) finals in Gauteng. She was invited to play at the Department of Education’s National Concert for the Minister of Education, to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Pretoria in 2005. That year the Mossel Bay Arts Society invited Samantha to play at the Gala Evening of the Celebrate Youth Festival. Samantha auditioned and was accepted as a soloist for the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra outreach residency programme in 2006.  Samantha was invited to play at the 10^th Anniversary of the National Eisteddfod Awards, to celebrate a decade of youth development in the arts, Johannesburg in 2007. In 2008 Samantha performed as one of the soloists with Musicanti Orchestra in Cape Town and this year with the JPO in Johannesburg at their Youth Concerto Festival and Camerata Tinta Barocca in Cape Town. This year at the Cape Town Eisteddfod, Samantha won the Alfred Garson Award for the most outstanding violinist in the 13 to 18 years category. Samantha is a member of the Miagi Youth Orchestra and the South African National Youth Orchestra.

SALLY JANE MINTER - Flute (22) Newlands

Sally Minter was born and raised in Cape Town.  At the age of thirteen she began taking flute lessons with Corvin Matei and later, Bridget Rennie-Salonen at the Beau Soleil Centre for Music.  Throughout high school Sally participated in the Cape Town Eisteddfod, winning an award for the best woodwind in the fifteen and over category.  She was also awarded the Trinity Exhibition Award in 2006 for obtaining the highest grade 8 results in South Africa in the Trinity Guildhall examinations.  As part of a school festival she was selected to perform the Double Flute Concerto by Cimarosa in the Cape Town City Hall.  After matriculating with six distinctions and coming second in the Western Cape in music performance, Sally began studying a BMus in Western Classical performance under Bridget Rennie-Salonen at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town. Since her first year, Sally performed as the principal flautist in the UCT Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Symphonic Wind Orchestra.  She also played as an ad hoc performer in several musical productions.  In 2007 she participated in the Artscape National Youth Competition and in 2008 the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, playing in the Festival Symphony Orchestra under Jonas Alber.  In 2009, Sally performed in the Seychelles for the Prince of Bahrain and in Cape Town for the King and Queen of Norway. Sally was placed on the Dean’s Merit List as well as awarded the Class Medal for the Western Classical stream in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for obtaining the highest aggregate in her year.  She has played in master classes for Raffaele Trevisani and Susan Milan.  In 2009, Sally participated in the Charterhouse International Music Festival in Surrey, England, under Susan Milan.  Whilst at University, Sally has been awarded several scholarships and grants, including the Twamley December Scholarship for 2007, the Ralph Nussbaum award for chamber music and the Michael Geoffrey Brumage Scholarship in 2009.

SIPHESIHLE MDENA - Tenor (24) Rondebosch

Siphesihle was born in King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape. In 1999 he and his family moved to Queenstown. In 2000 he enrolled to study at Sinako Junior Secondary School and joined the school choir. In 2002 he went to Bulelani High and did music as a subject and became one of the choir soloists which gave him the opportunity to sing in school competitions and win several prizes. In 2003 he was awarded 1st prize in the opera category singing Tradito Schernitto from W A Mozart's opera Cosi fan Tutte in the Tirisano National Schools Competition in Johannesburg. In 2006 he joined the South African College of Music to study opera.  Siphesihle has appeared in many opera choruses and performed the role of Nemorino in G. Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, the Schoolmaster and Mosquito from Janacek's Cunning little Vixen and Zeffirino in Il Viaggio a Reims by G.Rossini and many more. Last year he was the tenor in the Gounod mass and is currently working on Don Basilio from Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. Siphesihle is a fourth year opera student at SACM (UCT) studying under the supervision of Prof Virginia Davids and Prof Kamal Khan.

 

 

 

LYNELLE KENNED - Soprano (22) Paarl

Growing up in a musical family Lynelle learnt to appreciate classical music from an early age. She received an Exhibition Award from Trinity International Board of Examinations for the highest mark for a practical exam in South Africa in 2005. After forming part of the South African Youth Choir and Stellenberg Girls’ Choir in 2005 and 2006, Lynelle knew she wanted to pursue a career in singing. Since enrolling at the UCT Opera School in 2007 she won the Class Medalist Award in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  In 2009 she also received the Chisholm Prize for meritorious work in opera and sung the roles of Frantik and the Grasshopper in Janacek’s production of The Cunning Little Vixen and in May 2010 Maddalena in Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims. This will be her first performance as a soloist with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

 

 

 

NICHOLAS BOSMAN - Violin (10) Kuils River

Nicholas started playing the violin at the age of 4 years. He received the Hennie Joubert Award from UNISA. He has won several medals and trophies at local eisteddfods which include the Maggie Theron and Lona Antoniadis trophies at the Stellenbosch Eisteddfod and the Trophy for the best Primary School Performance at the Tygerberg Eisteddfod. Nicholas also performed at the Sanlam Music Competition in 2009.

MEYER SCHOLTZ - Clarinet (18) Durbanville

Meyer Scholtz started his clarinet lessons in 2002 under Arisa Voges at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre. In 2005 he was selected as soloist of the Hugo Lambrechts Concerto Festival and became a finalist of the Sanlam National Music competition for Primary School Learners. He has achieved top form and awards at various eisteddfods and performed at several prize winners’ concerts. In 2007 he was a semi-finalist and in 2009 a finalist in the Artscape National Youth Music Competition, as well as the semi-finalist in 2007 and 2008 of the Lubner Competition. In May 2008 he went on a short concert tour to Croatia and played in the Jeunesses Musicales International Youth Music Competition in Bucharest. He performed as soloist at the Hugo Lambrechts, Artscape and KwaZulu Natal Youth Concerto Festivals and selected in 2008 as the Hugo Lambrechts Student of the Year. He is a member of the SA National Youth Orchestra and the Miagi Symphony Orchestra and currently the chief clarinet player of the Hugo Lambrechts Symphonic Orchestra.

 

 

MELISSA TU - Piano (17) Bishopscourt

Melissa was born in New Zealand. At age five, she moved to Johannesburg with her parents, where she studied piano with Sylvia Turner and Pauline Nossel and violin with Prof Walter Mony. She won a number of prizes at the Johannesburg Music Festival, including best all-round pianist and best concerto. When she was eleven, she moved back to her hometown of Taipei, Taiwan, and continued learning piano-playing with Associate Professor Ms. Lee Yi-Chen. She currently resides in Cape Town, where she attends the American International School of Cape Town and studies piano with Professor François du Toit and violin with Prof Farida Bacharova, both of UCT. In 2009 she won the first prize of the Johann Vos Competition, during which she performed with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as being a finalist in the 2009 Artscape Youth Music Competition.

 

 

 

 

DANIELLE ROSSOUW - Clarinet (12) Bellville

Danielle is a Grade 7 learner at Welgemoed Primary School. She has been playing the clarinet for three and a half years and is currently a student of Mr Leon Hartshorne at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre. Danielle’s clarinet achievements include: In 2009 she was selected as a finalist for the Sanlam National Music Competition where she was the overall category winner of the Woodwind and Brass category. Selected to perform at the Hugo Lambrechts Prestige Concert where she was awarded the centre’s best Junior Student for 2009. At the 2010 Stellenbosch Eisteddfod she was the winner of the Eikestad Primary Junior trophy as well as the Rhenish Primary trophy for clarinet and selected to perform at the Stellenbosch Art Competition Junior Concert at the Endler Hall. In 2010 Danielle was selected to perform with the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre Symphony Orchestra at the Concerto Festival. She is a member of the Concert Woodwind Orchestra at Hugo Lambrechts and performs regularly at chamber concerts.

RYAN FRANK KIERMAN - Trombone (20) Pinelands

Ryan initiated his musical studies at the age of 5 on violin with Titia Blake. He continued with violin in his first years of primary school and then enrolled at the Beau Soleil Music Centre where he switched to cornet and was taught by his father, Sean Kierman. He excelled in this instrument, achieving distinction for his ABRSM and Trinity College Grade

I - IV examinations and received the Junior Brass Prize. Ryan was also a member of the Preliminary, Junior and Intermediate Band and the Stage Band at the music centre. He received a music scholarship to attend Rondebosch Boys High School by which stage he had changed to trombone as his main instrument and played both double bass and piano as well. In grade 9, he received a music scholarship to attend Diocesan College where he remained until he completed Grade 12. During this time, Ryan was an active member of the Bishops String Ensemble, Concert Band, Brass Band and Orchestra and toured with the brass ensemble and school choir to Russia in his Grade 10 year. His first trombone teacher was Nick Green and he transferred to Stuart Scott whilst at the Diocesan College. He achieved distinction for his ABRSM Grade 6 and 8 trombone exams and was awarded the Brass Prize at the Cape Town Eisteddfod in 2006. He was selected to perform as trombone soloist at the Bishops Pops in his matric year in 2008 and participated in numerous festivals and orchestras including: Stellenbosch International Chamber Music: Festival Orchestra; Principal and 2^nd trombone (2005-2009); SANYO: 2^nd trombone, performing with this orchestra at the Beethoven Festival in Bonn (2006); National Jazz Festival: Principal trombone of the National Schools Jazz Band (2005); National Youth Wind Ensemble: Principal trombone (2005). Ryan is active as an ad hoc trombonist and throughout his high school years and during the course of 2009 and 2010 has performed with the 37^th International Viola Symposium Orchestra (2009), the Con Spirito Symphony Orchestra (2007-2009), The University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble (2005 - present), Windworx, a semi-professional wind band (2007- present) and the Namibian Symphony Orchestra (2006 and 2007). In addition, he is active as a chamber musician performing in numerous brass quintets, sextets, larger brass ensembles and trombone quartets. In 2009 he enrolled for a Performance Diploma in Music at the SA College of Music, UCT, under the tutelage of William Haubrich and was a member of the University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony. Ryan is devoted to the trombone and spends many hours of daily practice in pursuit of this noble instrument.

ANELE MHLAHLO - Violin (18) Imizama Yethu, Houtbay

Anele has been studying the violin for six years. He began playing at the age of 12 at the Hout Bay Music Project (HBMP). His exceptional talent and capacity for independent learning was immediately noticed and soon was performing as a soloist. He is a now member of the MIAGI mentor-and-protégé programme, focussing on his development as a soloist and a member of the 2010 MIAGI Youth orchestra.  Leading South African violinist Marc Uys was teaching Anele before locating to New York and suggested Anele move to his former teacher Prof Jack de Wet where he has now been for over two years. He is also being tutored by Annamarie Gelderblom - another former pupil of Prof Jack de Wet. Anele has had several highlights in his short career: In 2006 he played Bach’s Double Concerto at a HBMP anniversary concert together with the renowned French violinist Philippe Graffin.  In 2007 aged 15 he was the concert master of the MIAGI Youth Orchestra, working with conductor Cem Mansur and was the youngest-ever MIAGI concert master. In 2008 he played in the MIAGI Youth Chamber Orchestra conducted by Maxim Vengerov; played with Prof Benjamin Zander conductor of the Boston Philharmonic in a workshop demonstrating the value of music in business and personal life. In 2009 he participated in the Young Euro-Classic Festival in Berlin and performed at a concert in Kassel in the beautiful Konzerthaus. Anele lives in Imizama Yethu, Houtbay, and is a Grade 12 student at Camps Bay High School where music is one of his subjects. He keeps fit with non-competitive soccer and gym.

HLENGIWE PRECIOUS MKHWANAZI - Soprano (25) Mowbray

Hlengiwe is a 4th year Opera student at the University of Cape Town under the direction of Kamal Khan and is taught by Hanna Van Schalkwyk. She comes from a very musical family where both her parents are involved in choral music. Hlengiwe participated in the SACMA competition in 2003 where she came 2nd in the Soprano section. She has participated in most of the opera productions presented at the South African College of Music (SACM) as a chorus member under the direction of Prof Angelo Gobbato. These operas include: La Rondine in 2007, Manon in 2007, and Don Giovanni in 2008. Hlengiwe was given her first opera role in 2009 when she sang in a Kaleidoscope (different opera extracts put together) doing the role of Madama Cortese in Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims and was a chorus member in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogany. Hlengiwe sang the role of Adina in Donizetti’s Elisir d’amor in 2009 under the direction of Prof Kamal Khan   and won the 2nd prize in the Schock Foundation Singing Competition the same year. She has sung the role of Madama Cortese in Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims under the direction of Matthew Wild in May 2010 and will seen performing the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in September 2010.

 

 

 

 

LOURENS FICK -  Piano (20) Paarl

Lourens is a first year BMus student at the University of Stellenbosch, studying piano with Bennie van Eeden. He started his music career at the age of five with recorder lessons and at seven with piano lessons under Abrie Wentzel of the Noord-Eind Arts School in Paarl. He is on the Unisa Honorary Roll for Achievers for recorder and piano. In addition to the recorder and piano, Lourens is also trained to play the euphonium, German flute and violin. He is a member of the Stellenbosch University Wind Ensemble. In 2007 he was selected for the Artscape National Youth Music Competition and was finalist in the Johann Vos Piano Competition, which he won in 2008. UNISA invited him to enter the music study bursary competition after his Grade 8 piano results. He also received the Vladimir Viardo Piano study bursary for best pianist and walked away as the overall winner.

 

 

ADJUDICATING PANEL :

ALASTAIR COCKBURN

Alastair has been co-ordinating and chairing the audition panel for Artscape’s annual Youth Music Festival for the past 16 years.   His professional music background was as a music teacher - he holds B Mus, UTLM, LRSM and LTCL qualifications.   After 18 years in the teaching profession - mostly as head of music at Pinelands High School - he changed direction and followed a “new” career in theatre administration, initially in the Eastern Cape as Regional Director for CAPAB, and then in Cape Town as Director of Orchestra, Music and Musicals for ARTSCAPE (formerly CAPAB).   He is currently Director of Operations and Planning for the ARTSCAPE Theatre Centre.  Alastair also has extensive experience as musical director for many staged musicals and Gilbert & Sullivan operas over a period of 36 years.  His last major production was as conductor of H.M.S. Pinafore for the G & S Society and this coming November he conducts Annie the Musical.

RONNIE SAMAAI

BMUS (UNISA); LRSM; LTCL; TLD (UCT); FTCL

Ronnie Samaai received his music training at UCT (College of Music) as violinist and gained Licentiates in violin teaching and performing from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as well as the Trinity College of Music, London, where he also gained the highly esteemed qualification of a Fellowship. His intense love for music led him to further studies in musicology with UNISA from which he graduated with a BMUS.For almost forty years Ronnie served the formal teaching sector and retired in 1996 as the vice-rector of the Bellville College of Education. His entire life is devoted to music education and in this respect he shares his talents at the Redefine Western Cape Music Education Project in Kuils River where he is the project leader and violin teacher. Ronnie teaches at various levels ranging from total beginners to very advanced students. For the second successive year he has been invited to the Valdres Sommersymfoni in Norway where he also gave master classes in violin. As a practicing musician Ronnie serves on several auditioning panels including the Youth Music Festival which he has been doing for the past 8 years. He also serves on the Board of directors of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK).

GEORGE MICHIE

George Michie studied conducting with Richard Austin at the Royal College of Music in London, at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena under Alceo Galliera, and with fellow Scot Sir Alexander Gibson. He was a frequent guest conductor with the BBC regional orchestras in Scotland, England and Ireland, also the BBC Concert Orchestra in London,  and has conducted music for films, television and recordings. For many years he was extensively involved with musicals in London's West End, including My Fair Lady, Oliver, Cats and Phantom of the Opera. From 1971 to 1980 was Musical Advisor to Howard & Wyndham, a leading UK Theatre Group. As an arranger, he has many credits for Theatre, Films and Television, and scored several ballets for London Festival Ballet, as well as a version of Puccini’s La Boheme for a 12 piece orchestra, commissioned by the Travelling Opera Company, UK. George Michie has performed in many countries including America, Australia, Canada and Japan. Since taking up residence in Cape Town in 1992 he has conducted numerous stage productions for CAPAB / Artscape, and appeared frequently in concert with the CTSO, CTPO and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestras. He has worked also with the National Symphony, KZN Philharmonic, National Chamber and Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestras.  From its inauguration he appeared regularly at the Spier Arts Festival, conducting the Opening Celebrity Opera Galas for three consecutive seasons, plus a varied repertoire ranging from Opera performance to Symphonic Pops, orchestral concerts to a silent movie accompanied by live orchestra in a Carl Davis score, and he conducted for international tenor Tito Beltran’s appearances during the 98/99 and 99/2000 seasons.  In 2004, he conducted Aqua Opera for Cape Town Opera followed by the South African tour of Phantom of the Opera.

MARISA MARCHIO - Vocal

Marisa Marchio was born in Italy and immigrated with her parents to South Africa. She studied singing with Flora Nielsen at the Royal Academy on suggestion of renowned accompanist Gerald Moore, Fred Dalberg and later with André Turp. In 1984 together with her husband Uliano Marchio, with whom she forms the Duo Marchio, she relocated to Rome where they spent the next 20 years performing in many Italian, European and Middle Eastern cities. In 1989 she was awarded the Targa d’Oro Omaggio a Mario del Monaco for her operatic performances. In 1992 she made her debut as an actress at the Todi Festival and received a major Italian Theatrical award La Maschera con Lauro d’Oro.  She taught both privately and at the Tito Schipa Conservatorio in Lecce and was frequently invited to participate on the juries of National and International Competitions and as external examiner at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In 2004 she returned to Cape Town. In May 2005 she was appointed Voice Coach for the Vocal Ensemble at Cape Town Opera and has also been a part-time singing lecturer at the SA College of Music. Her collaboration with Peter Klatzow spans many years and she has been fortunate to perform a number of his works written for the Duo Marchio. Other composers that she has collaborated with are Francesco Antonioni and Carlo Carfagna.

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