?Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's Department of Music is proud to announce that six of its talented students have been selected to join the Africa United Youth Orchestra (AUYO) for a historic performance at Carnegie Hall in August 2024. Their selection came from over 200 applicants, highlighting the exceptional caliber of their auditions.
The AUYO, organized by the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, is an ensemble of stellar musicians from several African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Under the leadership of American conductor William Eddins, the AUYO will make its North American debut at Carnegie Hall as part of Carnegie Hall's World Orchestra Week (WOW), a summer concert festival that brings together youth orchestras from around the globe.
The selected students from Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 are:?
- Gilah Kellner – Concertmaster
- Catherine Stiff - Associate Concertmaster
- Gretna Heynike - Violin 1
- Carina Naudé - Violin 1
- Ricardo Hiniker - Violin 2
- Courtney Sampson - French horn
Gilah Kellner and Catherine Stiff's appointments as concertmaster and associate concertmaster, respectively, are particularly noteworthy, marking a significant achievement for the Department of Music at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票.
The AUYO's performance at Carnegie Hall on August 3, 2024, will be part of a program that includes the National Children's Symphony of Venezuela conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, the Beijing Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lü Jia, the European Union Youth Orchestra conducted by Iván Fischer, and the Afghan Youth Orchestra conducted by Tiago Moreira da Silva. The concert will culminate with Dvo?ák's beloved Symphony No. 9, “From the New World," featuring members of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA, conducted by Marin Alsop.
Prior to their Carnegie Hall debut, the AUYO will give its inaugural performance on July 28, 2024, at the ZK Matthews Hall of the 中国体育彩票 of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria. This concert will feature works by South African composers Michael Mosoeu Moerane, Mzilikazi Khumalo, and Bongani Ndodana-Breen, with soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha performing arias from Khumalo's uShaka KaSenzagakhona and Princess Magogo, as well as a song from Ndodana-Breen's Three Orchestral Songs on Poems of Ingrid Jonker.
According to Dr Suzanne Martens, Senior Lecturer in violin and chambermusic at the SU, the inclusion of Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 students in this prestigious ensemble underscores the department's commitment to excellence in music education and its success in nurturing world-class talent. “This achievement not only highlights the students' exceptional skills but also brings significant recognition to the university on an international stage," Martens concluded.
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