The Music Department of Pro Arte Alphen Park is a small, but busy department, and most of the time a performance or concert is happening somewhere, or is in the pipeline.
Ex-learners of Pro Arte Alphen Park who are well-known musicians today, include Gérard Korsten (violin), Alma Oosthuizen (soprano), Jean-Louise Moolman (viola), Robert Pickup (clarinet), André Swanepoel (violin), Cobus Swanepoel (cello), Petronel Malan (piano), Stephen Pierce (pianor), Salomé Wepener (piano), Cobus du Toit (flute), Anzél Gerber (cello), Herman Jordaan (organ) en Hanli Stapela (soprano).
SIMFONIA JUVENTI 2010
Pro Arte Alphen Park is the host and patron of Simfonia Juventi, a prestigious Youth Symphony Orchestra, that is constituted by learners from various regions of South Africa. Criteria for admission are based on, inter alia, musical and skilled competence on the specific instrument. It is especially the orchestra’s reputation of excellence that has generated popularity with audiences and it has become a sought-after orchestra for aspiring and upcoming young musicians.
The following learners from Pro Arte Alphen Park were chosen to become part of the 2010 Simfonia Juventi Youth Orchestra. After 4 days of intensive auditioning, with learners from Gauteng, North West and Limpopo performing their best, EIGHT learners from Pro Arte Alphen Park were chosen to be members of this prestigious orchestra:
Visser Liebenberg (clarinet 1 AND concerto soloist)
Maritz Liebenberg (flute 1)
Thembi Mashanganye (violin 2)
Thabiso Mmopane (violin 3)
Itumeleng Seema (viola)
Francois Linde (cello)
Nicole Louw (cello)
Sunel Vosloo (French Horn)
Concerts are planned for the following dates:
Saturday 8 May (Nylstroom)
Saturday 22 May (Thabazimbi)
Saturday 29 May (Gala concert – Z K Matthews auditorium, UNISA)
Congratulations, we are proud of you!
MORE ORCHESTRA NEWS
1. PYPO en TSHWANE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
Amoré du Plessis (grade 12, flute) is a member of the Pretoria Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, while Marianne Flentge (grade 12, oboe) is a member of the Tshwane Youth Orchestra. Sunel Vosloo (grade 10, French horn) plays in the Pretoria Jeug Simfonieorkes - congratulations!!!
2. NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Marianne Flentge (gr 12) was invited to be one of three oboeists for the National Youth Orchestra, an orchestra that draws the best instrumetalists from all over the country. This is a huge honour, as members are normally selected by audition only.
CONCERTS
The first concert of the year was the Pro Arte Tutti on 19 March, and on this occasion every learner in the Music Department performed on stage. The evening was a glittering success, with an appreciating audience enjoying music and food in the school hall. Our renowned guests even included the former Vice-President of the country, ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka!
Our annual Composition evening was held at the end of August, and this occasion featured the premiéres of many original compositions. During this evening was asserted that our Music Department has a number of budding composers under the skilled guidance of Cillé Burger.
WINTER CONCERT
This year, the Art and Music Departments colloborated to showcase the talents and hard work of the learners. This concept was a first for Pro Arte Alphen Park, and a cosy food-wine-and-art evening was held at Burgundy’s in Brooklyn on Friday 31 July. While enjoying the various courses of a delicious meal, the audience was entertained by music of excellent standard and surrounded by an exhibition of the finest that the Visual Arts learners could offer.
YAMAHA ROEDEAN COMPETITION
Maritz Liebenberg (gr 11), Nicole Louw (gr 11), Andine Louw (gr 10), Jessica Park (gr 12) en Waldo van der Linde (gr 11), participated in this competition, and two of our learners did extremely well:
Maritz won first prize in the Wind category, and
Nicole received second prize in the Piano category.
Well done - we are very proud of you!
GRADE 12 PERFORMERS
The grade 12 examination concert was scheduled for 5 August, and this was an exciting showcase of the talent in the 2009 matric class. On this evening it was clear that the juniors of 5 years ago has matured in their performance, as they maintained a high standard for their final class concert at Pro Arte Alphen Park.
STILL TO COME
On 21 October, the music learners will perform by invitation, in a concert at the Potchefstroom campus of the North West University as part of the University’s annual concert series. Last year's concert was a huge success, and we are sure that the Music leaners will once again do us proud.
HOW TO BECOME A PART OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Auditions for acceptance into the Music Department are held throughout the year - please make an appointment with the Head of Department.
The minimum requirements are as follows:
For grade 8: One instrument on at least grade 2 level1 , Music Theory on grade 1 level.
For grade 9: One instrument on at least grade 3 level, Music Theory on grade 2 level.
For grade 10: One instrument on at least grade 4 level, a second instrument on at least grade 3 level, Music Theory on at least grade 3 level.
For grade 11: One instrument on at least grade 5 level, a second instrument on at least grade 4 level, Music Theory on at least grade 4 level.
1 Refer to the standards set by the external examining bodies of UNISA, Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music or Trinity Guildhall.