For Brandon Phillips (pictured left), conducting the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, of which he was the conductor for several years, and the UCT Symphony Orchestra together is like a dream come true, says PETA STEWART:
“Having all my favourite musicians, two very important parts of my musical journey in one place at the same time is mind-blowing,” he says, just before doing a combined rehearsal for the concert that takes place at the City Hall on 13 October 2026.
The combined forces will premiere Kyle Benade’s Chaos in Disguise, Part 1, which won the Jan Royce Prize at UCT, accompany pianist Isaac van der Merwe in the Second Piano Concerto by Rachmaninoff, then unleash their forces further in Dvorak’s Symphony No, 9, “From the New World”.
Brandon always has a full schedule.
He is head of woodwinds and ensembles at UCT and resident conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra where he conducts variety galas and other concerts. He is also a sought-after conductor for Johannesburg Ballet, Cape Town City Ballet and Cape Ballet Africa. “Ballet presents a very different set of challenges to symphony because the conductor needs to work closely with the dancers and choreographers, while maintaining a strong sense of musical continuity and flexibility.
Preparing for professional performances
“Each year at UCT alone, I conduct five major concerts with the UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble concerts and UCT Symphony Orchestra. Repertoire varies considerably and allows the students to engage with a broad range of orchestral music from classical to contemporary and collaborative projects. It’s important to challenge students while preparing them for the demands of professional orchestral performance.”
His professional life may be full, but he understands the need for a quality time with his wife, two children and extended family. “Success is not only about what happens on stage; it is also about maintaining a healthy balance and being present for the people who matter most.”
He is delighted that his children are taking an interest in music, and this is natural given Brandon’s grounding in the New Apostolic Church where he learned to play violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, bassoon, tenor sax, trumpet, euphonium, the whole recorder family and a “bit” of guitar, He also sings in the Parow Congregational Church Choir which he also conducts, and has been known to sing what he wants to his youth orchestras!
Skylar, 10, is learning the recorder and sings in the children’s choir at church and his son, Elijah,6, has recently joined the choir as well.
“They both have a very good musical ear and are naturally musically inclined. It is wonderful to see their interest in music developing, although I am also conscious of allowing them to find their own musical identities and interests. At this stage, I am simply enjoying watching them discover the joy of making music.”
Youth orchestras are all different
One might think that conducting one youth orchestra is pretty much like another but you would be wrong.
“University students are already developing a more advanced understanding of orchestral playing, musicianship and ensemble skills. They are preparing themselves for the possibility of entering the professional music industry as performers, conductors, educators, arts managers, They need to learn to take responsibility.
“With the CPYO, you may have young musicians who are still developing fundamental orchestral skills alongside musicians who are already performing at a very high level.
“Bringing consistent energy, establishing clear musical expectations and holding the ensemble to a high standard are important in both environments. The way in which I communicate those expectations may differ according to the musicians in front of me, but the underlying principle remains the same: I want the musicians to play with commitment, discipline and musical conviction.”
Collaborations provide an important platform to showcase young musicians playing with other musicians and to motivate them by giving them the opportunity to prepare and perform a substantial symphonic programme. I believe that collaborations such as this demonstrate to young musicians that there is a future for them in classical music. It is important that we create opportunities for young musicians to perform alongside one another, to learn from each other and to experience the standard and commitment required for serious orchestral performances.”
Brandon is also confident that this concert will demonstrates to Cape Town audiences the extraordinary level of talent among our young musicians and encourage continued support for classical music and music education in South Africa.
Diverse pieces
He has chosen diverse pieces for the concert. First of all, there’s the premiere of a new piece by Kyle Benade.
Kyle’s piece, Chaos in Disguise, Part 1, is engaging and very well orchestrated. He brings out a wide range of instrumental colours, allowing different sections of the orchestra to contribute meaningfully to the musical texture. The work also has strong contrasts between lyrical passages and more technically demanding, fast-paced sections. There are moments of considerable intensity and controlled chaos — no pun intended — which provide a very interesting contrast to the more lyrical and expressive material.
Benade says: “The piece is my own blend of using the harmonic and contrapuntal techniques of Bach, the powerful orchestration of Beethoven as well the frantic rhythms and aggression that can be found in the music of metal bands such as DragonForce and Metallica. My idea was to use the symphony orchestra as a vessel to create this frantic and intense sound, while keeping the piece still suitable for an orchestra. Special thanks to the Jan Royce Foundation for the opportunity to have this work performed.”
The second piece, the Piano Concerto No, 2 by Rachmaninoff, will be performed by Isaac van der Merwe, the winner of the Laura Searle Prize for Piano Concerto Playing, which takes place annually at the South African College of Music. Isaac has already performed in numerous solo recitals both here and recently in Russia and has appeared as a soloist with various professional orchestras, including the CPO, establishing himself as one of Cape Town’s promising young pianists.
“We around proud to have him at UCT; he represents the kind of young musician we want to nurture: talented, committed and willing to seek opportunities to develop his artistry beyond the university environment. I believe his combination of technical ability, musicality and performance experience will make him a compelling soloist for this concert.”
Francois du Toit, professor of piano, agrees: “ Isaac is a wonderfully intelligent and humorous human being with a passion for music and a genuine care for his fellow compatriots. Talent and musicianship he has in abundance and it is a honour to teach him and mould his pianistic future. Rach 2 has always been his dream piece to play and it suits him extremely well.:
About Brandon, Francois notes that he, “has an acute affinity to communicate and guide our young students. The respect he holds them in is immeasurable.”
For the final work on the programme, Brandon chose Dvorak’s Symphony No 9, “From the New World”.
”it is one as one of the first symphonies I encountered as a bassoonist. It is particularly significant in the development of young orchestral musicians because it presents the musicians with substantial technical and musical challenges, in an accessible and engaging manner.”
It is rare to have two youth and student orchestras of this calibre perform a substantial programme that is usually associated with professional symphony orchestra. “Audiences will hear music with technical depth played with energy and enthusiasm,” he says.
“Support the young musicians who represent the future of classical music in our city and our country. These musicians are investing enormous amounts of time and commitment into developing their craft, and opportunities to perform major repertoire in a professional concert environment are an important part of that development.”
What: Brandon Phillips and the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the UCT Symphony Orchestra
Where and when: Cape Town City Hall on 13 October 2026
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
