Sheila Chisholm
Its long been known when young people study a musical instrument it not only broadens their minds, if they practice hard enough doors open, and events are experienced that would otherwise be denied them. On Sunday 14 May at 4pm three of Cape Town’s up-and-coming musicians are being given an opportunity to show the standard their years of study has brought them to at a public concert at Artscape Theatre.
Humbane, Gevisser, Brooks
This Gala Concert, in celebration of the Centenary of the Rotary Foundation, presents Sakhile Humbane, Leo Gevisser, and Jordan Brooks playing alongside the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conducted by Brandon Phillips.
Sakhile Humbane, 20, began playing flute at nine years of age with Lisa Thom. Currently a student of Liesl Stoltz at the South African College of Music, Humbane has appeared as principal flute and principal piccolo in the SA National Youth Orchestra and UCT’s Symphony Orchestra. He was also principal flautist of KZN’s Youth Orchestra and Wind Band, and appeared as soloist with the KZN and CT Philharmonic Orchestras. Among the competitions he has won are the Wakkerstroom Music Bursary Competition and the Stellenbosch International Music Bursary competition, and he was awarded first prize at the National Youth Music Competition and Fine Music Radio Bursary Competition.
For two consecutive years Humbane won the WH Bell Music prize at UCT for achieving the highest practical mark in the woodwind department. Humbane, who has had master classes abroad with Sir James Galway, Professor Pierre-Yves Artaud and Karl-Heinz Schutz, will play the 1st movement from Mozart’s Flute Concerto.
Leo Gevisser, 14, started piano at five and is presently studying with Professors Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhaes. He studies violin with Lucia di Blasio Scott. Between 2010 and 2015 Gevisser received a special prize for Most Gold Diplomas at the Cape Town Eisteddfod. In 2015 Gevisser won the Victoria League Best Entrant prizes in both piano and violin. 2014 saw Gevisser selected to perform in the KZN Philharmonic Youth Concert Festival and the Hugo Lambrecht’s Concert Festival on piano and in 2016 on violin.
“Life changing experience”
At the SACS National Music Competition, on violin, Gevisser received First Prize in Strings category in the 11-12 age group. Other prizes Gevisser has won include receiving Overall First Prize at the Atterbury National Piano Competition (19 years and younger) and the category prize 11-12 years. Last year Gevisser received an invitation to perform, on piano, with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra for the final round of Len van Zyl’s Conductor’s Competition; enjoyed his recital debut at the Brooklyn Theatre in Pretoria; received First Prize in the Samro Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition and received the Piano category prize and special prizes for best performance of a South African Composer in the First Round; Best performance of Classical work in the Second Round; and best performance of a Romantic work in the Third Round. Among Gevisser’s most memorable master classes are the ones with Menahem Pressler at Adamant Music School, in Vermont USA, which he describes as “a life changing experience.” On Sunday Leo Gevisser will play the first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto.
Youngest performer
The third and youngest solo performer is Jordan Brooks, 13. He started violin under Anne-Marie Swanepoel at the Beau Soleil Music Centre at six years of age. Presently in Grade 8 at Westerford High School, Brooks plays with the Senior Orchestra at Beau Soleil Music Centre and is the youngest team member. He plays in his school orchestra, auditioned for Classical Pops and received High Honours and Diploma Awards at the Cape Town Eisteddfod.
Brooks won the Gold Medal at the Samro Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition in 2015 and prizes for Best Baroque and Best South African Pieces as well as the Strings category prize. Brooks played in the Hugo Lambrecht’s Concerto Festival and last year he was a Gold Medal winner at the Hugo Lambrecht’s 30th Anniversary competition. He enjoyed playing Vivaldi’s Summer at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre and recently joined the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. On Sunday Brooks can be heard playing the first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.
Conductor Brandon Phillips oversees the training of the 67 members of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, who are fully committed to attend weekly rehearsals. Young players are also given private lessons by professional musicians. The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s Outreach and Education programmes began in 2003 under Henriette Weber. Since then over 150 000 children have been exposed to music in ways they have never otherwise have known.
Sunday’s programme, arranged in celebration of Rotary’s Centenary, is just another example of how Rotarians reach out to children. Over and above their educational programmes and humanitarian grants, this non profit organisation has immunized hundreds of thousands of children against polio.
Proceeds raised from Sunday’s concert go towards the Youth Orchestra and the Rotary Foundation. The programme: Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Mozart 1st Movement Flute Concerto (Sakhile Humbane), Grieg 1st Movement Piano Concerto (Leo Gevisser), Mendelssohn 1st Movement Violin Concerto (Jordan Brooks) and Sibelius Finlandia.
What: Centenary of the Rotary Foundation
Who: Sakhile Humbane, Leo Gevisser, Jordan Brooks with Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conducted by Brandon Phillips
Where: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
When: Sun, 14 May, 4pm
Tickets: R265 includes snacks, wine or soft drink post performance
Book: www.computicket.co.za or Artscape Dial-a-Seat
WS
