NPC: 2013173339/08 | PBO: 930057362 | NPO: 132-992
NPC: 2013173339/08 | PBO: 930057362 | NPO: 132-992
African music has always been an integral part of WCYO’s identity and performances. Our orchestral arrangements are often created with this in mind, blending traditional African rhythms, melodies, and styles with classical influences.
African music is a vibrant and essential part of WCYO’s identity. Our Percussion Ensemble, led by Ms Marna Smit, who is responsible for many of the ensemble’s arrangements, places a strong focus on African rhythms and influences, while the WCYO Marimba Band is regularly featured in performances and orchestral works to infuse arrangements with an authentic African character.
Malcolm Dedman, a well-known composer, created The Rainbow Nation of South Africa especially for WCYO and later composed The Future is in Africa for the 2024 International Youth Orchestra Bridges tour, both works drawing on indigenous and pan African themes that reflect our artistic direction.
WCYO competed as a youth orchestra in the International European Youth Music Festival in July 2017, performing unique specially composed works that combined traditional African instruments such as marimbas and djembes to produce true South African masterpieces. These elements are not an addition to our music making, but a core expression of who we are as an orchestra, consistently bringing an unmistakable African flair to major public events, theatres and community venues.
This commitment extends into our orchestral repertoire, where African musical traditions inspire both arrangements and original compositions written specifically for WCYO. By blending traditional rhythms, melodies and styles with classical influences, we celebrate the richness of the continent’s cultural heritage through sound. Our ensembles continue to explore new ways of weaving African music into their programmes, keeping these traditions alive while allowing them to evolve.
Looking ahead, WCYO is deepening this focus by expanding our range of African inspired instruments and repertoire, ensuring that African music remains central to our artistic vision and to the shared cultural story we proudly represent.
