Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble’s 25th anniversary celebration
Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary on July 17 at the Linder Auditorium in the University of Witwatersrand.
The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble will return to the Linder Auditorium to commemorate 25 years of great music-making, on July 17 only.
Buskaid’s founder, Rosemary Nalden said that she first went onto the Linder Auditorium stage 25 years ago, performing in Buskaid’s debut concert with 15 school-aged youngsters from Diepkloof, Soweto. On that day, she had no idea that 25 years later, she would be on the same stage, celebrating some of the most extraordinary achievements imaginable – from the Royal Albert Hall’s London Proms to a World Cup fan park in Damascus, from the Cité de la Musique in Paris to a Mori P in New Zealand, from the Bamboo Cathedral in Colombia to a Dutch barge in Holland.
“The list is endless, but our annual appearance at the Linder is, for all of us, extra special, as we get to play to our loyal, enthusiastic and supportive Joburg audience. Our innovative programme will highlight the diverse talents of these extraordinary young Buskaid musicians – a few of whom actually played in that first concert,” she said.
This internationally acclaimed string ensemble will perform the World Première of Scarlatti in Soweto, a quirky, jazzy piece by the renowned British USA-based composer, Julian Grant, written especially for Buskaid.
Also included in the billing is a suite of stunning music by the French baroque composer Lully.
Buskaid’s brilliant young violinist Mzwandile Twala will be performing Dvoák’s magical Romance for Violin and Orchestra.
Twala (born in 2000) was one of the youngest children to start learning the violin at Buskaid.
In 2018, he gained his DipABRSM with distinction. He enjoys playing chamber music and experimenting with jazz improvisation; he is currently freelancing with both the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Phoenix Orchestra.
The performance will end with a selection of pieces by Northern European composers as well as a few new pop songs and a good helping of energetic Kwela, which will have the audience smiling and dancing.
Tickets sell at R300 with concessions at R175. Early bird special if you book before June 30 is R250 with concessions at R150.
Regretably, no children under the age of six.
No refunds and all Covid protocols will be observed.
For any enquiries, please contact the Buskaid office: 011 442 9676.
