St John’s College Sixth Form composer’s work brought to life by KZN Philharmonic
Kabir Budlender’s latest A Level composition, Cultural Confluence, was selected for the prestigious 2025 New Music Workshop.
St John’s College Sixth Form composer Kabir Budlender views orchestral music as a vehicle for narrative and cultural representation.
His latest A Level composition, Cultural Confluence, was recently selected for the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s prestigious 2025 New Music Workshop, under the baton of Maestro Chad Hendricks.
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The opportunity brought Kabir to Durban, and into conversation with professional musicians, fellow composers, and the conductor in an open, collaborative setting at The Playhouse Company.
“As an aspiring composer, being able to hear your musical themes played live is really where the magic of composition happens,” said Kabir, “and to be able to convey these distinct musical traditions and narratives has been an absolutely transformative experience. I am so thankful to my composition mentor, Mr Liebenberg and my peer, Michael Jeong, in helping me realise my vision for this composition.”
He added that he looked forward to continuing to refine his craft and hoped to perform this composition, and many more, in the future.
The workshop process was more than a rehearsal; it was a chance to learn through direct engagement, as Kabir received feedback on both technical and interpretive aspects of his work, evolving the piece. The dialogue between composer and orchestra deepened his understanding of how written music translates to performance, shaping his final A Level submission, and opening possibilities for future performances.
Cultural Confluence is an eight-minute programmatic suite in three movements, drawing on folk tales and musical traditions from South Africa, China, and North America. Each section weaves a distinct narrative through themes that echo the musical idioms of each region.
The St John’s College Sixth Form composer’s work explores how composition can be a form of storytelling, which connects different cultures and traditions through music.
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