Artscape to launch new Lunch Hour Concert Series

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Artscape LogoArtscape will be launching an exciting and jam-packed Youth Month programme with the first of their new Artscape Lunch Hour Concerts on 1 June 2016.

Starting at 13:00, the first free Artscape Lunch Hour Concert is in association with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and kicks off at the Artscape’s Chandelier Foyer where the young musicians from the Masidlale strings and woodwinds projects will perform.

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These young musicians, from Langa, Mamre and Nyanga, form part of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s youth development and training projects. Masidlale, which translates to “Let’s Play”, was started in 2009 to provide musical training to children from township areas in their mother tongue. Children between the ages of 6 and 17 receive strings and woodwind training from members of the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra both in their communities and at the Artscape Theatre complex on a weekly basis and many students have gone on to graduate to the CPO Music Academy.

Situated in the heart of the Cape Town Central Business District, Artscape Theatre has been the city’s cultural hub for more than 40 years, by offering world-class productions, high tech sets and locally produced costumes. The theatre is also committed to development, transformation and using the performing arts in nation building. Their new monthly Lunch Hour Concerts will showcase the different departments within the organisation.

Capetonians working in the city are invited to take a break from their daily routine to enjoy a chance to experience the magic of theatre.

This first concert will also launch an exciting month-long programme aimed at celebrating Youth Month and marks the 40th anniversary of the historic June 16, starting with the Sekunjalo Edujazz Concert with guest artist Jimmy Nevis on Saturday 4 June.

ALLBasters, a hip hop production that brings South African and Dutch artists together on stage on 15 June at 19:30 and 16 June at 15:00. Stories will be shared in music and song with HemelBesem in collaborate with Dutch hip hop artists Skaffalau aka Helberg, Dutch female hip hop artist Marikit, Afrikaans music icon Gian Groen, SA’s Got Talent winner, the opera singer, James Bhemgee, Afrikaans female MC Yoma, Afrivisie winner Herman Kleynhans, hip hop artist Linkris, ATKV’s tannie Francis Brown, Boland Godfather of hip hop Die Hooflig, and more. Presented by Afrovibes Festival and Artscape supported by Consulate General of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Benjamin Jephta (musician, composer and arranger and band leader), Kyle Shepherd (2014 Standard Bank Young Artist) (piano), Marcus Wyatt (an 8-time SAMA nominee) (trumpet), Sisonke Xonti (sax) and Jonno Sweetman (drums) will be on stage from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 June with the Benjamin Jephta Quintet, joined by other young artists perform in the Artscape Arena.

That same weekend will see an explosion of hip-hop culture when the popular show Cape Town’s Most Wanted returns to the Artscape Theatre for three performances on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June.

Another popular returning production is the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival with a line-up of 100% South African music on Saturday 18 June. young jazz musicians will complete a 10-week mentorship programme with artists like Camillo Lombard (piano), Frank Paco (drums), Wesley Rustin (bass), Marc De Kock (saxophone) and musical director Amanda Tiffin (vocals), before taking to the stage to raise funds for the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre.

Other productions taking place are as follows:

  • A dance production, Tribute to Christopher Kindo on 14, 15, 16 at 19:00 and 16 and 18 June at 15:00 and 19:00 at the Arena
  • The Shakespeare School Festival SA from 1 – 4 June
  • African International Theatre and Dance Festival from Monday 20 to Friday 24 June.
  • The School Arts Festival on 11, 15 – 18, 29 – 31 August 2016 @ 19:00 and the gala on 1 September
  • Cape Town talent participate in the Brouhaha Destination Carnival in Liverpool and Edinburgh from 4 – 19 July
  • The 45th annual Western Cape Youth Classical Festival on 20 August

The next Artscape Lunch Hour Concert will be in association with the Cape Town Opera on Tuesday 19 July. The concert will form part of the media launch for the Artscape Women’s Arts Festival which will start at 11:30 that day.

For more information about these events coming up at Artscape Theatre, visit their website at www.artscape.co.za  or visit www.cpo.org.za/outreach for more about the Masidlale project.

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