Goema Orchestra :: South Atlantic Suite Première

Mac’s back, again! The third concert season of the Cape Town Goema Orchestra takes place on Saturdays 8 and 15 September at the SABC Auditorium in Sea Point. Led by Cape Town’s “goema captain,” Mac McKenzie, the orchestra will perform the première of “The South Atlantic Suite,” McKenzie’s third major orchestral work. “The Suite evokes dormant musical thoughts and practises deeply embedded in the memories of peoples from along the south western coast of Africa and eastern coast of South America, people who share a common ancestry and experiences born out of slavery,” says McKenzie.

McKenzie’s NPO, the Cape Town Composers’ Workshop, showcases budding composers and is the driving force behind the Goema Orchestra. The season will include new works by orchestra members Chantal Willie, Ana Strugar, Derek Gripper and Mandla Mlangeni. A new composition by bassist Chantal Willie explores nuances of jazz, world music and South African music. Strugar, a young Serbian arranger studying at UCT, creates work influenced by jazz, folk and classical music. Cape guitarist Derek Gripper has gained renown as a composer of original music in a variety of folk and classical styles while some of Mlangeni’s compositions and performances on jazz trumpet can also be heard in groups like TRC.

The orchestra’s line-up will feature leading string players Rayelle Goodman and Jürgen Schwietering, woodwind specialist Mike Rossi and jazz pianist Andre Petersen. Concert performances start at 8pm. Tickets cost R100 (students and seniors pay R70 and there are discounts on bookings of 10 or more). For reservations:

Mobile: 072 500 2204
Email: composers.workshop.ct@gmail.com
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