The annual Youth Classical Concert celebrates its 55th year at Artscape on Saturday 5 September at 19:00.

Twelve young classical musicians and singers who auditioned successfully will perform as soloists with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), conducted by Brandon Phillips.

Presented by Artscape and the CPO, supported by the City of Cape Town, the concert gives young musicians the opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra on a professional stage.

Audition candidates had to be bona fide music students, perform at a high standard and reside or study in the Western Cape. The concert is a celebration of young musical talent, not a competition.

The programme includes concertos by Ravel, Mozart, Shostakovich, Hofmeyr, Weber, Ibert, Khachaturian and Donizetti, with arias by Saint-Saëns and Handel.

Soloists

The soloists, aged between 12 and 22, include pianists Giorgia Ehlers (19) from Mowbray, Alexander McIvor (18) from Cape Town and siblings Xizhi Aiden Luo (15) and Weien Amy Luo (18) from Stellenbosch. Other instrumentalists are cellist Solange Rojas (22), raised in Lima, Peru, marimba player Kyrah Adams (20) from Paarl, clarinettist Benjamin Monvoisin (12) from Loevenstein, euphonium player Kumkani Kabane (20) from Cape Town and saxophonist James Cilliers (20) from Durbanville.

Singers are sopranos Phoebe Damons (20) from Bellville and Sinesipho Tokwe (19) from Observatory, and mezzo-soprano Lilitha Nkuku (20) from Goodwood.

Each soloist receives mentoring from Phillips, resident conductor of the CPO, head of woodwinds at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town and conductor of the UCT ensembles. This year marks the 11th Youth Classical Concert he will conduct.

Since the concert’s inception, more than 600 young musicians have performed with the CPO. Many are now soloists or members of South African and international symphony orchestras and opera companies. A record 75 applications to audition were received this year.

The concert runs for two hours, including a 30-minute interval.

Fine Music Radio will broadcast the concert live.

Tickets are R100 for adults, R50 for pensioners, students and scholars, and R80 for block bookings of five or more.

Book through Webtickets or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695. No children under age six.

Performance programme 2026

1. Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22 — 1. Andante sostenuto (Giorgia Ehlers)
2. Handel: “Tornami a vagheggiar” from Alcina (Sinesipho Tokwe)
3. Handel: “È gelosia” from Alcina (Lilitha Nkuku)
4. Mozart: Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 191 — 1. Allegro (Kumkani Kabane)
5. Hofmeyr: Concerto per Marimba e Orchestra d’Archi — 1. Fantastico (Kyrah Adams)
6. Donizetti: “Quel guardo il cavaliere” from Don Pasquale (Phoebe Damons)
7. Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-flat Major, Op. 38 — 1. Allegro ma non troppo e maestoso (Alexander McIvor)

Interval

8. Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 103 — 3. Molto allegro (Weien Amy Luo)
9. Weber: Concertino for Clarinet in E-flat Major, Op. 26 (Benjamin Monvoisin)
10. Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107 — 1. Allegretto (Solange Rojas)
11. Ibert: Concertino da camera — 2. Larghetto (James Cilliers)
12. Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major — 1. Allegramente (Xizhi Aiden Luo)

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