The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) will host free concerts in Kraaifontein and Grassy Park in an effort to inspire the local youth.
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Two young musicians will perform solos, including 15-year-old violinist Corban Beukes and 26-year-old trumpeter Chad Groepies.
‘Our aim, where possible, is to include young artists from the communities, and at the Kraaifontein concert, Brackenfell’s brilliant young Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (CPYO) violinist Corban Beukes will perform the Meditation from Thais,’ says CPO CEP Louis Heyneman.
‘In Grassy Park, the outstanding young CPYO trumpeter Chad Groepies from Mitchells Plain… will perform a movement from Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto.’
Beukes started playing the violin at just three years old, News24 reports. He auditioned for the Western Cape Youth Classical Concert at the age of 11. ‘It was my first time playing for (the CPO), and I was so nervous,’ he says.
Since then, he has had the opportunity to play with the CPO as an ‘adult player’. ‘It has always been a dream for me to play with the CPO. I idolise them for their professionalism and how adept they are at playing in any place. The CPO is made up of excellent players.’
Beukes adds he hopes that his performance will ignite the same passion in others. ‘There are benefits to just listening to classical music, but I hope that if young people hear it, they might also want to play. This concert can help youth to experience the classical world, and I hope it inspires them to become involved in it.’
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Groepies hopes that his performance will do the same. ‘I hope this concert shows young people that there’s more opportunity out there. Often, the arts are not seen as careers with futures, and people are told that passion doesn’t pay the bills. But I hope people are inspired to take up music, even if they don’t play professionally.’
Groepies just returned from an orchestral summer camp in Germany. He has been playing with the CPYO since 2014, adding that his music career was inspired by an orchestra performance when he was in Grade 8.
‘I had no idea there were things out there like this. I had always appreciated music, but I hadn’t seen myself doing it. It’s a dream to be part of this performance. I don’t get to perform in those settings very often. It’s just a great privilege.’
Details:
- Cost: Free
- Time: 3pm
- Location: Kraaifontein Civic Centre on Sunday, 12 November | Grassy Park Civic Centre on Sunday, 19 November
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