Musical interns join philharmonic orchestra
CELLIST Chris van Zyl and double bass player Jonalene Taylor will join the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) as interns for its symphony concert on Thursday at the Artscape theatre.
Hailing from the University of Free State’s Odeion School of Music (OSM), their internship has been described as mutually beneficial, as they will be mentored to develop their musical and technical skills, while the CPO will benefit by having skilled and talented musicians to augment the core orchestra.
Van Zyl is currently principal cellist in the OSM Camerata and the Free State Youth Orchestra.
He has been principal cellist of the Stellenbosch Chamber Music Festival Orchestra and performed the solo cello part in the world premiere of Kasi, composed by Hendrik Hofmeyr.
He obtained the Advanced Performance Certificate in cello (Trinity College London) with distinction, and was awarded the Trinity College Exhibition Award for the highest achievement in cello in South Africa.
Taylor started studying with Peter Guy at the Mangaung String Programme when she was 10 and is now studying at OSM.
Taylor has been a trainee at the advanced cadet program at the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, and is a recipient of an Education, Training and Development Practices Seta bursary and a Southern African Music Rights Organisation bursary, awarded for exceptional achievements.
Marius Coetzee, founder of the OSM Camerata in 2012, said: “I’m delighted to be able to take my belief in mentorship to the next level, with the musicians of the CPO, who have vast experience in mentoring the young musicians in the orchestra.
“I hope this is the start of a long relationship, where the OSM can help in transforming South Africa’s orchestras.”
Tickets can be bought at https:// www.cpo.org.za/new/pec-events/winter-symphony-season/1561665600/