Rand’s musical prodigies enchant their audience

The Rand Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Concert on 1 June was a resounding success, and showed that Randburg’s youth has extraordinary aptitude for classical music.

Eight musicians performed as soloists during the Rising Stars concert at the NG Church in Malcolm Road, Blairgowrie, to rapturous applause.

Catherine Stiff (9), Rin Matsuki (9), Nathan Emans (12) and Grace Zhao (14) were the highlights of the evening, and received the loudest applause from the audience.

“The soloists were very good this year,” said Isabel Bradley, chairperson of the orchestra.

The conductor, Conrad Visser agreed.”The soloists played brilliantly and the orchestra stepped up to the mark,” he said.

“[The soloists] are all accomplished musicians and all have careers ahead of them if they choose to follow that path.”

Zhao said that she had “lots of fun playing with the orchestra”, and would remember the other soloists, their performances and the fact that she “got lots of experience” out of the concert.

In order of appearance:

Conrad Visser’s overture Musiek vir ons ontslape Tata, dedicated to former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

Inge Lubbe’s (15) Violin Concerto dedicated to Soviet youth, C major, Opus 48, first movement, Allegro molto e con brio, by Dmitri Kabalevsky.

Liesel Roux’s (16) Clarinet Concerto, A major, K622, second movement, Adagio, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Amy Stessl’s (15) Flute Concerto, E minor, Opus 57, first movement, by Sevario Mercadante.

Catherine Stiff’s (10) Concerto for Violin in Hungarian style, A minor, Opus 21 by Oskar Rieding.

Althea Steynberg’s (15) Concerto for Flute, F major, Opus 10 no. 5 (RV434), first movement, Allegro non molto, by Antonio Vivaldi.

Rin Matsuki’s (9) Violin Concerto, G major, K216, first movement, Allegro, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Nathan Emans’ (12) Keyboard Concerto, D major, Hob XVII-11, third movement, Rondo alla Ungherese, by Franz Joseph Haydn.

Grace Zhao’s (14) Fantasy on Hungarian Folk Melodies, piano and orchestra, S123 by Franz Liszt.

The orchestra’s next concert is scheduled for 31 August.

Details: Rand Symphony Orchestra 011 793 4936.