The Rheinland-Pfalz Youth Orchestra  was founded in 1973 and is one of the best ensembles of its kind in Germany. In addition to performing regularly in Rheinland-Pfalz, the orchestra travels abroad from time to time to perform and find new audiences. The Orchestra sees itself not only as an ambassador for Rheinland-Pfalz but also as a group that represents the role of music in extracurricular programs for young people in Germany. Past tours have seen the orchestra performing in Israel, Greece, Spain, Mexico, the United States and China.

At the initiative of Peter Stieber, President of the Landesmusikrat (State Music Council), and Prof. Dr. Ivo Meinhold-Heerlein, who chairs the LJO-Förderkreis (the LJO Sponsors’ Circle) and regularly spends time in South Africa as an honorary professor at the University of Cape Town, the idea arose to bring the LJO to South Africa again, 20 years after its successful debut tour of the country. The project has been in planning for over a year, and its contours have now taken concrete shape. Performances have been arranged in both South Africa and Botswana. The orchestra will be touring in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Gaborone, Cape Town and Stellenbosch and performing at both nations’ great concert halls.

The first part of the concert represents a connection between Germany/Europe and South Africa. Ingoma was written by the South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr in 1998. His work incorporates versions of Thula, babana and Uqongqot‘hwane. After that, the South African pianist Megan-Geoffrey Prins will play Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 together with the youth orchestra which integrates also some other young South African musicians. The second part will be formed by Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony, also known as Eroica. The conductor will be Albert Horne who was born in South Africa and who currently works at the State Theatre Wiesbaden, Germany.

Concert dates include:

• Tue 2 Oct, Johannesburg, Linder Auditorium
• Wed 3 Oct, 19:00, Pretoria/Tshwane, Brooklyn Theatre
• Sat 6 Oct, 20:00, Gaborone, Maitisong Theatre
• Thu 11 Oct, 20:00, Cape Town, City Hall
• Fri 12 Oct, 20:00, Stellenbosch, Endler Hall

Tickets for R160 (regular), R120 (pensioners) and R90 (students) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.