Business leaders conduct the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra with the help of Richard Cock
PARKTOWN – Renowned conductor Richard Cock coaches business leaders to conduct the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra.
Five business leaders took on the unusual challenge of conducting an orchestra on 1 February.
The event, which was hosted at the Wits Space Frame Theatre in Parktown, formed part of the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival.
The CEOs not only entertained the audience but also gave insight into the similarities between conducting an orchestra and running a business.
Renowned conductor Richard Cock coached the amateur conductors before they took to the stage.
Cock said, “We all come from different backgrounds but our basic story is the same. We have to stand in front of a group of people and convince them that we know what we are doing.”
Business leaders included 702 presenter and Miss Salon London boutique grooming salon owner Azania Mosaka; incoming Business and Arts South Africa (Basa) CEO Ashraf Johaardien; head of human capital at Rand Merchant Bank Nomfundo Makaya; government relations executive at Airlink Michelle Green-Thompson and group CEO of Etion Limited Teddy Daka.
Outgoing Basa CEO Michelle Constant shared her experience with the CEOs before they tried their hand at conducting. “You will quickly realise who’s in control. And it’s not you,” she chuckled.
“This experience helps you realise your own limitations and stretches you to overcome the challenges.”
Johaardien shared his experiences with the Rosebank Killarney Gazette.
“Conducting is way more technical and codified than people imagine,” he said.
“But Richard was fantastic in helping me just relax into it. I also reached out to [University of Johannesburg choir master] Renette Bouwer who helped me understand the purpose of conducting and how to translate my experience as an arts manager into this exercise.”
Johaardien’s daughter Zara (3) selected his piece Queen of the Night for the event and helped him get over his anxiety. “It became about giving her a unique, enjoyable and engaging experience which to my mind should really be at the heart of any organisation’s purpose in terms of their stakeholders and target audience.”
Mosaka, whose grooming salon is located in Parkhurst, said,
“Creativity lies at the end of your own discomfort. Challenges help us discover new things about ourselves.”
Proceeds from the event were donated to the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company.
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