Reena performs a job of note
REENA Makan has the challenging task of marketing the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Durban.
With 70 full-time musicians from more than 20 countries, they have two final concerts in the winter symphony season over the next two Thursdays at the Playhouse. Over the past 33 years, they have earned a reputation for excellence and innovation.
The Herald interviewed her.
Makan, what does your typical day entail?
No day is the same. It would basically cover working on strategies to best promote the orchestra, meeting government and business stakeholders for funding and sponsorship proposals, interacting with orchestra members and with visiting soloists and conductors, compiling season brochures and weekly programmes for the world symphony series, looking at opportunities to showcase the orchestra, and collaborating with companies and individuals.
What are some of your challenges?
People have preconceived ideas of what an orchestra does and the music it’s capable of playing. For me, it’s about working and interacting with people of diverse backgrounds and presenting a unified vision people can share. Your highlights? When we showcase new and emerging talent to the community, city and the world.
I love being in the audience with those experiencing the orchestra for the first time, be they children, pupils or old folk – whom we perform for in our outreach projects.
This week, we were in the Lotus FM studio with three teenage musicians who recently played with the orchestra. I was amazed by their excitement, maturity and enthusiasm.
Tell us about some of the projects.
We have the world symphony series, which runs four times a year, various community concerts, education and development concerts, performances at old-age homes, and one-off public concerts.
The orchestra also does private and corporate concerts.
It undertakes a comprehensive education, development and community engagement programme which exposes more than 30000 urban and township pupils to educational concerts annually.
It spends a month a year in rural areas, working with schools and communities.
What would you say to nonconcertgoers to get them to attend a live orchestra concert?
I would encourage them to keep an open mind and come to enjoy something that says so many things with no words.
After all, music transcends language, background, age and cultural barriers. It’s an opportunity to let your mind be transported to special places.
The KZN Philharmonic is dubbed “Africa’s premier orchestra”. What is special about it?
The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, which was established in 1983, is also the largest full-time orchestra in the country.
It has established itself as a musical force to be reckoned with and as an ensemble willing to break down preconceived notions of what an orchestra should be. It brings a wide range of music, including light classics and popular music, to an ever-broadening public.
It also renders sterling service for a variety of musical theatre, ballet and opera productions.