Three young musicians have been appointed by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra as cadets in the CPO’s Young Artists Development Programme, joining the CPO on August 1. They are Marelise Brink, 26, of Oranjezicht (bassoon), Carin Donson, 27, of Tableview (French horn); and Andrea Salomo, 29, of Blue Downs (oboe).
The one-year programme, which will afford the young musicians at least 20 performance opportunities, has been funded by the L&S Chiappini Trust and the Azriel and Moira Fine Foundation.
Says Adriaan Fuchs, CEO and Artistic Director of the CPO, “the CPO’s Orchestral Cadet Programme is designed to give young musicians meaningful experience, confidence, and structured training in orchestral performance. It provides the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside professional orchestral players under the guidance of dedicated CPO mentors who will give constant feedback.
“Cadets will participate in rehearsals, receive individual and ensemble coaching, and take part in educational activitiesthat help them develop their technical and performance skills. They also gain insight into the operations of a professional orchestra, including its education and community development programmes.
“This programme serves as an important stepping stone towards further opportunities within the music profession,” he says.
Fuchs notes the CPO is grateful to the L&S Chiappini Trust and the Azriel and Moira Fine Foundation for sponsoring this project and “buying into our vision to train for the future in this stepping stone towards further opportunities in the music profession.”
The cadets will also assist at the CPO Music Academy where the ensembles and youth orchestras rehearse and with the Masidlale grass-roots training programme.
For Marelise, joining the CPO “gives me the opportunity to develop my playing alongside some of the best musicians in the country while learning more about the intricacies of orchestral playing in South Africa and investing in the community and youth development programmes of the orchestra”.
Carin is “so incredibly grateful. When I was young, I always loved the sound and feeling of listening to classical music in the City Hall. When I joined the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, that love for orchestral performance grew, as well as my dream to be part of CPO. What a beautiful full circle moment!”
Andrea is “so honoured. I look forward to fulfilling a dream of being an orchestral musician and learning in the process from one of the best music communities in the country.”
