The 48th Western Cape Youth Classical Festival (WCYCF) will be hosted by Artscape and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) on Saturday August 31, at 7.30pm.
It will feature the talents of classically trained performers aged between 9 and 23.
The young singers and solo instrumentalists will get the opportunity to perform with the orchestra on a professional stage, under the conductorship of Brandon Phillips.
Nigerian cellist Nwuko Sunday Kelechi, 20, will be among those performing.
He began playing the cello at the age of 13. His love for classical music led him to further his studies at Stellenbosch University. In 2014 he won the Music Quest Competition in Nigeria and was also awarded the first prize winner of the Elna Elphick Cello Competition in 2018. Sunday is also a member of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
The other protégé performing is 9-year-old Eléna Monvoisin, from Bellville, who started piano lessons at the age of 4.
She attained highest honours in her Unisa, Trinity and ABRSM exams for piano, violin and oboe as well as for music theory. Elena won awards for piano at the Tygerberg Eisteddfod in 2017, Best Violinist (10-years and under) at the Cape Town Eisteddfod in 2018 as well as Best Junior Double Reed player for oboe at the Stellenbosch Eisteddfod in 2018.
The WCYCF is advertised early in the year at various universities, music schools and libraries as well as to private music teachers.
The main criteria are that the entrants must be bona fide music students; that they perform at a very high standard, and are resident or studying in the Western Cape. Tickets cost R80. Book through Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695 or Computicket.
