Composers Association of South Africa

[Colin]

An exciting initiative has been announced by the SAMRO Foundation (previously SENA - The SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts) in a letter to CASA:

In the SAMRO Board of Trustees meeting held on 15 November 2011, there was much discussion around lack of significant orchestral works by South African composers. It was identified that not many young South African composers have adequate knowledge of orchestration and the necessary skills to compose works for symphony orchestra or symphonic bands.

It is for this reason that the SAMRO Foundation is initiating a mentorship program for orchestral composition this year.
We are currently putting together a process plan that would pilot the program to its success. We therefore request your input with regards to criteria for soliciting mentees who can be mentored in the genre mentioned above.
In this program, each mentor will work with two or three mentees. The envisaged outcome of the program is for the mentee, with a guidance of a mentor, to compose a suite of four 3-minute movements for full orchestra/symphonic band.

There are six mentors who will be participating in this year's program, who come from different provinces in the country including, Cape Town, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. Some mentors are open to working with at least two or three mentees over a period of time. The program is flexible and not strictly formal.

This is a valuable offer and we invite all CASA members and forum readers to respond.

If you are interested, please contact Tshifhiwa Phophi at the SAMRO Foundation:
Tel: 011 712 8418
Fax: 086 682 0270
Email: tshifhiwa.phophi[AT]samro.org.za

[robertpaulelliott]

I'm excited about this. I've always wanted to see more local modern orchestral works done, and there are enough Youth and Philharmonic orchestras around for these pieces to be performed.
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Paul Elliott

Lead Songwriter, FistFight
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