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The First Lady of South Africa, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, is set to spend Sunday afternoon at a concert held by the internationally acclaimed Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble.
The classical string ensemble, emerging from a tiny corner in South Africa’s biggest township, has been taking the world by storm for a number of years and will, this weekend, treat Gauteng locals to a show that's promising to be unforgettable.
Buskaid, which is based in Diepkloof and has members aged 15-35, is now in its 22nd year after being founded in 1997 by Rosemary Nalden. In this time, Buskaid has travelled the world 26 times to huge international acclaim.
It’s the only South African orchestra to have played at the BBC Proms and was subsequently named as one of the world’s 10 most inspirational orchestras by the UK’s Gramophone Magazine. This is one of the many highlights that Nalden holds dear.
We started out with about 15 students and we're now at 140, so it's been great."
"Music is hardly taught at school and it is known that classical music, specifically, enhances learning in children," she says.
Lesego, a longtime member and administrative assistant of Buskaid, agrees with Nalden and says that kids need exposure to music at a young age.
"I started playing when I was 11-year-old got exposed to [it] tagging along with my friends to a community hall where they practiced music. I would just follow them and that's how I got exposed to music. I think support from parents also plays a role because my parents were very supportive and were happy with what I was doing," he says.
Lesego, who has been with Buskaid since its inception in 1997 as a founding member, started out on the violin and now plays the viola which he enjoys.
"I play the viola but I also teach to the younger ones and in the midst of that I'm also involved with the admin side of things. It can all be stressful sometimes because we are a small group but it is all worth it; we all work very hard," he says.
"I have many highlights from being part of Buskaid, the main being able to give back through the teaching I do and seeing those who go on to do music [outside of Buskaid]. Also seeing kids who were once shy blossoming and become expressive is rewarding. Getting to travel, also, is a highlight and that we've performed for Nelson Mandela, the Queen [of England], and Michelle Obama when she came to visit the country," he adds.
Another grateful Buskaid member is Katlego, 28, a violinist and who has been playing for more than 10 years. She also teaches the younger kids who are one the beginner level. She says being part of Buskaid has enabled her to further her studies as she managed to save up money and study at the University of Johannesburg.
Nalden says that Buskaid also acts as a support structure for many of the young musicians in Buskaid who battle with difficult circumstances in their everyday lives.
"The orchestra acts as one large family. The kids come here for emotional support because a lot of them experience a lot of hardships, some have even lost parents. We also employ a psychologist who comes in once a week and we have a tutor who comes in to provide academic support. Four of our students also give up their Sunday afternoons to help tutor others," Nalden says.
On the afternoon, audiences can expect to hear the first movement of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachmusik, Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs) by Pablo de Sarasate, featuring young virtuoso violinist Mzwandile Twala, which will be followed by the focal point of the afternoon - a very unusual performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in which four different solo violinists will be featured, two past members and two present.
Current students, Khotso Langa and Mzwandile Twala will entertain the audience with Spring and Winter respectively, whilst Kabelo Motlhomi and Samson Diamond, also founder members of Buskaid and who both have long since left Buskaid to forge highly successful musical careers, will play Summer and Autumn.
The ensemble will also be offering a unique mix of other classical songs, classic pop and vibey township Kwela arrangements that are unique to Buskaid. It's sure not to be missed.
"It takes 12 years to master string instruments and these kids are overly dedicated in the hours they put in, you see it in the passion they have for music. We are giving the community something special; anybody who comes [to the concert] feeling miserable, will leave feeling much better about the world," Nalden says.
Venue: The Linder Auditorium, St Andrew’s Road, Parktown
Date: Sunday, 21 July 2019, 3pm
Tickets can be booked at Computicket from R180 to R280. The concert is proudly sponsored by Redefine Properties, TOTAL South Africa, Classic FM and Business & Arts South Africa (BASA)
