MUSIC AT ARTSCAPE
THE Artscape Theatre hosted a free lunch-hour concert featuring three of the acclaimed male conductors who were the winners of the Len van Zyl Conductors Competition.
Brandon Phillips, Xavier Cloete and Chad Hendricks showcased their euphonic orchestral performance.
The Chandelier Foyer of the Artscape Opera House had a serene atmosphere where a delighted audience waited for the conductors to begin. A diverse audience enjoyed their free tea and coffee.
The opening of the show commenced with Brandon Phillips, the principal bassoon of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
Brandon and his Philharmonic Youth orchestra seized the moment with their remarkable talent and captured the interest of the audience immediately. Following this performance were conductors, Chad Hendricks and Xavier Cloete. Hendricks, who won the third prize of the Len van Zyl Conductors Competition and Cloete, winner of the competition both displayed an exceptional performance at the Artscape.
Hendricks is considered an inspiration to the youth in Cape Town because of his achievements as an orchestral conductor.
“This orchestra, I would say, is the best in the country and it’s a huge privilege for me to conduct an orchestra.
“Sometimes I feel like I am not there yet but because they are such good musicians. It’s a privilege for me to conduct with them,” Hendricks said.
Asked how he felt when conducting a performance, he explains: “Emotionally it depends on the music.
“The advantage is that the orchestra can do whatever you want them to do and, in that way, it becomes extremely emotional and it’s not just a recording or a YouTube video,” Hendricks said.