Twelve student musicians will perform as soloists with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at the 55th Youth Classical Concert on Sept. 5, 2026, at Artscape in Cape Town, WeekendSpecial reported.
The selected instrumentalists and singers, aged 12 to 22, successfully auditioned from a record 75 applicants and will perform under conductor Brandon Phillips, according to the report. Audition criteria required candidates to be bona fide music students performing at a high standard who reside or study in the Western Cape.
The concert serves as a launching pad for performing with a symphony orchestra on a professional stage, the report said. Since its inception, more than 600 young musicians have performed with the CPO through the program, with many now soloists or members of South African and international orchestras and opera companies.
CPO CEO and Artistic Director Adriaan Fuchs said the concert reflects the orchestra’s commitment to music education, noting that more than 300 young people receive free instrumental and theory tuition, ensemble training and performance opportunities each year through its education programs, WeekendSpecial reported. Thousands more experience live orchestral music through schools concerts, community performances and outreach initiatives.
Each soloist receives comprehensive mentoring from Phillips, who is Resident Conductor of the CPO and Head of Woodwinds at the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town. Student and scholar tickets are R50, with adult tickets at R100.
For more information, visit weekendspecial.co.za.