Masidlale plays in Gugs

Thirty members of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s Masidlale grassroots violin and brass training projects are again showcasing just how well they play in a concert in Gugulethu on Saturday November 18, at the JL Zwane Church, in Gugulethu, at 3pm.

The youngsters, most between six and 16, will perform in solo and ensemble items like a movement from a trumpet concerto in accompanied by a string quartet.

This concert follows a jam-packed one in Pella last week in which the young musicians stunned the audience with the level of playing.

Since its launch in 2009, Masidlale has been succeeding in enriching the lives of youth through training each learner to reach their potential; thereby transforming communities, building capacity and providing opportunities for professional musical development.

Grassroots projects now exist for children in Gugulethu, Langa, Khayelitsha, Atlantis, Mamre and Nyanga to provide really young children with string or woodwind instrument training irrespective of their financial means or background. Teachers, from the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, themselves trained by Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, teach the children, so completing the circle of skills transfer.

The project is headed by Ash-Lee Louwskieter and Odile Burden. All students receive weekly tuition in the city or at Mamre.

Admission to the concerts is free. For details, contact Ash- Lee Louwskieter, Ashlee@cpo.org.za or 021 410 9089.