Local musician hits the right notes
The young violin sensation from Tembisa, Mr Pascali Dichaba Mokadi, is now a violin teacher at the Johannesburg Orchestra Youth Company.
He is also a freelance musician.
Born on December 30, 1991, and raised in Tembisa, he has been passionate about music since his primary school days. He began attending extra-curricular classes at the local Music Magnet School.
After several years of honing his skills by playing at school functions, his teacher took note of his budding talent and encouraged him to enroll at the East Rand School of the Arts, which saw him progressing to Eisteddfods and provincial competitions in his teenage years.
He decided to audition for the South African National Youth Orchestra in 2009, and described being chosen to play in the orchestra as one of his finest moments in life.
‘When they announced that I was selected as part of the South African National Youth Orchestra, it was one of the happiest moments in my life. I had never played for an orchestra of that caliber before,” said Mr Mokadi.
“I really look forward to meeting and working with other musicians from across the country in order to do what we love best, to make beautiful and world-class music.”
He went on to say that he views Ms Pretty Yende, a South African soprano, as his role model and form of inspiration.
“She is one of the few South Africans who has taken classic music in our country to the next level. She is currently living in Italyand I am still in contact with her because she has paved a never-ending way for aspiring classic musicians like me. She has always had faith and believed in me, she always said that if she could make it in classical music overseas, then I could do the same,” he said.
Some of his biggest musical achievements include being placed as first violinist in the Sasol Concert of the National Youth Orchestra at the Grahamstown Festival in 2013, participating in a National Youth Orchestra exchange programme that saw him studying in Switzerland for six weeks in 2011, and conducting the East Rand Youth Orchestra in 2011.
During his spare time, Mr Mokadi participates in mission outreach programmes to Mozambique. He also plays at weddings, conferences, meetings and gala events. In addition, he also enjoys playing the cello and the recorder.
He dreams of playing in a world-famous orchestra and working his way up to be one of the best violinists South Africa has ever produced.
Mr Mokadi will be performing at the ZK Mathews Hall, Unisa, in Pretoria on Sunday, December 15.
For more information, contact the organisers on 082 272 2117. Ticket prices start from R60 to R130.
