The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company

A big thank you to the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company for providing venues, talented young musicians to attend the course and being a fountain of knowledge and a constant supporter of the National Youth Orchestra.

The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company is a music development NGO serving the Gauteng area. Beginning in 1976 with the establishment of a children’s orchestra by Professor Alan Solomon, the youth orchestra has continued to build in numbers and in musical standards. A Section 21 Company was established in 1998 and it now serves more than 1000 learners, representing 120 schools, education institutions and community groups.

The JYOC provides a unique opportunity for individual and group music training for young aspiring musicians. Children and youth from any community are welcome to audition for placement in one of eight graded orchestras, from a full symphonic orchestra to the Jazz programme. Drawing from the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area, we are able to offer orchestral training at a very high standard in Johannesburg. The orchestras perform over forty public concerts annually, attracting wide media coverage. Music of all genres is learned and performed, from jazz to classical. Expert individual instrumental tuition is offered from Grade 1 to Licentiate level. The JYOC also mentors and trains student teachers, offering music skills development, instrument repair/making workshops and creating employment opportunities for young adult musicians. To find out more about the good work that they do, go to www.orchestracompany.co.za