Carina’s Musici Orchestra was established in 1996 with a handful of children practicing as one mixed ensemble. Soon, under the careful care guidance and expertise of founding member, Ms. Carina Brown, the numbers grew rapidly and the various ensemble groups started to participate in local events and Eisteddfods with tremendous success.
Today, the West Coast Youth Orchestra (WCYO) has grown to include –
- A Senior Orchestra
- A Junior Orchestra
- A Junior / Senior String Orchestra
- A Junior / Senior Wind Band
- School Orchestras / Jazz & Other Bands
- Various combinations of Ensembles
We build our projects on firm foundations, that simultaneously benefit the students, schools and their communities, securing future partnerships with community leaders, and address the pressing social and cultural needs of the West Coast.
Our target groups are children, the youth and young adults, and we strongly believe that any child or young person should have the opportunity to join our programmes regardless of their background, ability or social economic status, because music education should be a right, NOT a privilege.
West Coast Youth Orchestra performing at Cape Town Suidoosterfees
The favourite percussionist
It means Family. It means Friends. It means Confidants. It means Memories, good and bad. Being in the WCYO means finding myself as a musician and being exposed to those with similar passions as well as finding and playing music you never would have heard had you not been there. Most of all, it means Life.
- Andrea van Zyl
TESTIMONIALS
Being part of the West Coast Youth Orchestra is my weekly escape from reality, where I’m surrounded by people who shares the same values as me, a strong feel and passion towards music. How does this make me feel? It makes me feel kind of special, great and a blessing to be part of such extraordinary group, the group where magic happens the West Coast Youth Orchestra. Being part of the West Coast Youth Orchestra lights up my world in this world filled with darkness, but like Beethoven said music can change the world. Being part of a orchestra isn’t just my hobby it is my passion.
– Aidan Daniels
An orchestra consists of musicians their instruments. The musicians in the WCYO, their cultures, beliefs and personalities differ so much. Their instruments characteristics, sound and looks differ even more but when the musicians bring their instruments and are conducted professionally that’s when the magic happens regardless of all the differences. This music then evokes emotion amongst the audience and musicians alike. That’s why I enjoy and appreciate being apart of the WCYO!
– Emma Guthrie
I want to thank you very much for all the effort that the orchestra teachers have done for me. Where I sit today is by the orchestra teachers. There is so much they did to get me where I am today. As a learner, I would also like to thank my teachers and Aunt Carina.
– Colan Fransman
To be part of the WCYO means to be part of a big family that supports each other. It means that you are committing to an opportunity of a life time that other people can only dream of. It means that you are fulfilling a passion that no one can take from you.
– Racquel Carelse
I would like to thank you for all the effort that the orchestra teachers have done for me. Where I sit today is by the orchestra teachers. There is so much they did to get me where I am today. As a learner, I would also like to thank Ms. Carina Brown, because even if it were not for her, I would not have been in the Senior Orchestra today. Thank you very, very much.
– Zanele Constant
