NPC: 2013173339/08 | PBO: 930057362 | NPO: 132-992
NPC: 2013173339/08 | PBO: 930057362 | NPO: 132-992
The West Coast Youth Orchestra® (WCYO) is a culturally diverse non-profit organisation that offers inclusive Music Outreach and Development Programmes to young people across the South African West Coast.
We are dedicated to cultivating a love for classical and orchestral music while creating a shared space where children and youth can learn the value of teamwork, build confidence, and grow in character through music.
We believe that every child, regardless of background, ability, or socioeconomic status, deserves access to quality music education. At WCYO, music is not a privilege – it is a right.
The West Coast Youth Orchestra and ensembles are guided by a team of dedicated tutors who are not only skilled musicians, but also passionate mentors. With their expertise and encouragement, they help students grow in confidence, refine their musical abilities, and create unforgettable experiences that inspire a lifelong love of music.
From early primary school to university level, WCYO nurtures musical talent through youth orchestras and various ensembles. We encourage our students to develop a lifelong love of music while helping them reach their full potential as performers and individuals.
Our musicians regularly perform in public concerts, school collaborations, community events, cultural festivals, and tours. These experiences give them the confidence to perform in front of diverse audiences while celebrating the richness of their cultural backgrounds.
Participants also have the chance to engage in:
For many students, classical and orchestral music is not part of their home lives. Through WCYO, music becomes a channel for connection, giving young people a space to thrive, collaborate, and develop as both musicians and members of a creative, caring community.
All players benefit from developing their orchestral musicianship, as well as their own solo and technical skills, progressing beyond what is typically possible without ensemble experience.
Perhaps most importantly, our programmes help foster friendship, belonging, and joy. Over time, our orchestra becomes more than a place to learn — it becomes a family.
Carina Brown
Alida Fransman
Petula Louw
Marion Cole
Zamile Khuzwayo
Director
Conductor
Artistic Manager
Ad Hoc Conductor
Arrangements,
Orchestration & Composer
Higher Strings & Marimba-Band
Programme Manager
Fundraising
Percussion
Ensembles
Marimba-Band
Lower Strings
Ensembles
Choir Director
Vocals
Ad Hoc Accompanist
Recorder Programme
Logistics
A Phenomenal Woman Transforming Lives Through Music – HCI FOUNDATION
Carina Brown’s story is one of vision and unwavering dedication. A belief that music builds futures. Born in Johannesburg and later raised in Humansdorp, she discovered her love for music, thanks to a passionate teacher who gave her the chance to grow. From those early experiences, Carina carried with her a belief that music is not simply a skill to be taught, but a transformative force that shapes hearts, builds discipline and opens futures.
She made history during 1981 to be the 1st person to perform live a piccolo concerto in the newly built auditorium at the UPE. The concert was recorded live and broadcasted by SABC. She played flute & piccolo in 4 Orchestras and Bands during 1978 – 1981 and was chosen for the South African National Youth Orchestra, which had various performances under the baton of the work re known conductor, Anton Hartman. She then started to adjudicate a variety of Eisteddfods and various other competitions from early years, up to a few years ago.
Carina and her husband, Henry, later moved to Hopefield, where she started a music school from small beginnings. Soon the demand for music grew so much that Carina started WCMA, the first official academy for music in the West Coast. Later years, as a founding member of the West Coast Youth Orchestra (WCYO), Carina has spent nearly two decades creating opportunities for young people in the West Coast – many of them from rural and under-resourced communities. Through her quiet strength behind the scenes, her role is both hands-on and wide reaching. As the Executive Director and Programme coordinator of WCYO, she arranges transport for students, secure funding, manage daily operations, supports families and ensures that no child is left behind because of circumstances. What began as a bold vision, has grown into a full symphony orchestra and an outreach programme that has touched many lives.
Through her leadership, WCYO became an accredited UNISA music exam centre, breaking down barriers for local students to earn formal qualifications. Carina has also nurtured international collaborations and exchanges, allowing students to perform alongside peers from other countries. Her work is not driven by recognition, but by compassion and consistency. Many WCYO alumni – some now professional musicians – credit her as a steady, encouraging presence throughout their journey.
Her contribution towards youth development and the arts in the West Coast is profound and shaped an inclusive and impactful organisation. WCYO’s legacy of music education and youth empowerment is inseparable from her tireless efforts.
Nominated for a Cultural Award for Contribution to the Performing Art of Music by the Western Cape Government, Cultural Affairs & Sports Department.
Received a prestigious and once-in-a-life-time Ministerial Award for Outstanding Achievement of Women in Arts & Culture.
Became the second South African woman to be selected by Rockschool, London, United Kingdom, as an international examiner.
Nominated for a Cultural Award for Contribution to the Performing Art of Music by the Western Cape Government, Cultural Affairs & Sports Department.
She received the prestigious Department of Arts and Culture Awards for Best Contribution to the performing arts in Music via WCYO.
Won a Saldanha Bay Municipality Youth Community Award for the various Youth Outreaches and Development Programs.
Was selected and trained as an Examiner for the Western Cape Education Department.
Was selected and trained as a Level 6 International Rockschool Examiner for Diploma Examinations.
Was selected and acted as a Senior Moderator and Examiner for the Western Cape Government Education Department Final Practical Examinations.
Senior Moderator and Examiner for Western Cape Government Education Department Final Grade 12 Practical Examinations.
Was honoured to receive the South African Society of Music Teachers’ SASMT Award of Excellence in Music Education.
Received a Phenomenal Women Award by HCIF and Southern sun in August 2025 for transforming lives through music.
WCYO Patron & World-Renowned Violinist
World-renowned violinist Ishani Bhoola has long served as Patron of the WCYO, bringing her deep love of music and lifelong commitment to nurturing young talent to our organisation. She believes in creating meaningful opportunities for children to discover, develop, and refine their musical abilities.
Her ongoing support continues to shine a spotlight on our outreach and development programmes, as well as the vital work being done in our communities, helping ensure a vibrant future for the organisation.
Ishani’s distinguished career spans both sides of the Atlantic. After winning multiple prizes as a student, she graduated from the Guildhall School of Music in 1988 and went on to perform with the BBC Radio Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the English Chamber Orchestra.
In 1997, she moved to Chicago, where she co-founded the Montag Ensemble and joined the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. Relocating to Los Angeles in 2000, she became a member of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Opera. She also freelanced for a decade with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and various studio recordings.
From 2010 to 2020, Ishani was based in the UK, teaching at the Hindhead School of Music and privately. During this time, she founded the Waverley Ensemble, a UK charity dedicated to presenting Baroque concerts in southeast England.
In 2017, she launched the Haslemere International String Competition, offering talented young string players valuable performance experience and career development opportunities. She is also Artistic Director of the Issigeac International Music Academy in France and, most recently, joined the International Advisory Board of the English Chamber Orchestra.
Ishani is an Associate of both the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and she is currently based in London.
