Johannesburg youth orchestra finds a new home

The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) unveiled their new building at the University of Johannesburg’s Bunting Road Campus, Auckland Park, on 2 June.

The unveiling showcased a modern design coinciding with the company’s recent re-branding. The opening was then followed by an introduction to the JYOC’s new direction.

A performance from the Symphonic Wind Band of the JYOC with orchestral versions of the modern songs such as Blurred Lines and Fame, provided entertainment to guests.

The main event was hosted inside the newly furbished building, where the youth orchestra performed The Imperial March from Star Wars, while guests were welcomed into the building. The speakers for the evening were Executive Dean from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg, Prof Federico Freschi, and musician and conductor Richard Cock.

Cock happily announced , “It gives me enormous pleasure to be patron to an organisation [JYOC] like this,” he said.

Freschi also welcomed the company to their new home. “It is a great privilege to say these words of welcome to the company. We actively embrace the company to our campus, and we look forward in fostering a promising collaboration for the future to come,” he said.

The CEO of the JYOC Susan Rendall said that she was amazed at the opportunity for the orchestra to grow at their new premises. ” It is the culmination of an incredibly long and exciting journey that has been made possible by such generous benefactors. I am so proud to be standing here at the start of a new journey for the company,” she said.

The orchestra also performed Il bambino caro by Puccini, with vocalist Annemarie Steenkamp providing her voice to the performance, and the final piece was the symphonic suite from the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Details: Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company 011 484 1257.