Africa United Youth Orchestra is the youth orchestra of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, South Africa’s national orchestra.
Africa United Youth Orchestra in New York City
The Africa United Youth Orchestra led by American conductor William Eddins, makes its North American debut with works by South African composers Michael Mosoeu Moerane, Mzilikazi Khumalo, and Bongani Ndodana-Breen, including arias sung by South African sopranos Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and Goitsemang Lehobye, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” featuring members of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America; at Carnegie Hall in Midtown, Manhattan; on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 7pm. From $15.50. 🇺🇸 🇨🇩 🇰🇪 🇲🇿 🇳🇬 🇿🇦
The program is:
- MICHAEL MOSOEU MOERANE Fatše La Heso (My Country)
- MZILIKAZI KHUMALO “Nandi’s Aria” from uShaka KaSenzagakhona
- MZILIKAZI KHUMALO “Sengiyeza” from Princess Magogo
- BONGANI NDODANA-BREEN “Die Kind” from Three Orchestral Songs on Poems of Ingrid Jonker
- DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
(This is a very influential composition. John Williams’ theme for the classic 1975 summer film “Jaws” is inspired by the symphony’s opening notes. You can also hear elements of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” and recognize Symphony No. 9’s influence on Williams’ later work on the “Star Wars” themes.)
The artists include:
- William Eddins is the Music Director Emeritus of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a frequent guest conductor of the world’s leading orchestras. williameddins.com 🇺🇸
- Bongani Ndodana-Breen is a composer who is a former ISM Fellow at Yale and Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard. @dr_bonganinb 🇿🇦
- Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is a South African soprano based in Switzerland. @masabane_cecilia_rangwanasha 🇿🇦
- Goitsemang Lehobye is a South African opera and classical singer. @goisoprano 🇿🇦
- National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America is organized by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. It was founded in 2012. carnegiehall.org @nyo.usa 🇺🇸
Carnegie Hall is leading a classical music renaissance in New York City with an incredible range of diverse musical programs. Hearing artists of color perform classical music inspired by their own cultural frameworks, and interpreting the traditional classics is a wonderful experience. It renews your faith in humanity and the power of music to bring people together.
Africa United Youth Orchestra
Africa United Youth Orchestra is the youth orchestra of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, South Africa’s national orchestra. The Africa United Youth Orchestra has talented young musicians from several African countries including: South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, and Nigeria. 🇨🇩 🇰🇪 🇲🇿 🇳🇬 🇿🇦
Africa United is a great concept. We can only solve the world’s problems by working together. Working together has long been a path to prosperity in African American communities.
Classical music is often inspired by regional folk stories, melodies, and rhythms. South Africa has a long and noble cultural history. Many Americans are familiar with the beautiful voices of South African choirs which have so much in common with American gospel. South Africa’s strategic location between the Atlantic and Indian oceans makes it a meeting place for diverse peoples. Today it has twelve official languages. The most common are Zulu and Xhosa. English is also commonly spoken. You see this in South African popular music which is mostly sung in Zulu or Xhosa with a few English words sprinkled in. It’s easy to connect with, and if you want to understand all the words, Google Translate supports both Zulu and Xhosa.
The future belongs to the young. Mother Africa is young, and young Africans are very creative. Amapiano, South African house music from the townships (barrios), is taking on the world. The South African log drum sound is already showing up in all kinds of popular music. It’s getting the whole world to dance. With over 200 million people, the African Diaspora is the world’s largest diaspora. It is considered the sixth region of Mother Africa, so African and African Americans making music together is a true expression of unity. This is what the world needs now.
Music doesn’t discriminate. It transcends race and knows no boundaries.”
Soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha reported by Johannesburg In Your Pocket
Through the Africa United Youth Orchestra we get to hear classical music composed from an African cultural framework, and African interpretations of traditional classical music. ¡Bravo!
More Information
mzansiphilharmonic.org.za
Facebook @MzansiPhilharmonic
Instagram @mzansiphilharmonic
YouTube @MzansiPhilharmonic @sanyorchestra
Tickets
From $15.50