Violinist to perform in Sasol Concert series
Kwa-Zulu Natal born, Sumeet Sarkar (19) has achieved a great deal for his age. Pursuing his passion for music, he has stayed in East London, Johannesburg and currently resides in Bloemfontein. Next year, he will be moving to Boston, USA where he will study at the Berklee College of Music and by taught by renowned Grammy and Oscar award winning composers.
Sumeet has been playing the violin since the age of six. He attended the National School of Arts and always dreamt of playing in the South African National Youth Orchestra (NYO).
“I contacted the NYO and auditioned and was selected to perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Since then the National Youth Orchestra has become an extended family, where we can all get together and rock some good music,” Sumeet says. He has been part of the National Youth Orchestra for five years; completed eight tours throughout South Africa as a member of the orchestra. In that time they have also collaborated with internationally renowned artists like Sir Roger Norrington and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra and performed with none other than Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The South African National Youth Orchestra has supported the development of South Africa’s young musicians’ since1964 – Sasol became a founding member in 1979. Every year Sasol sponsors the Sasol National Youth Orchestra’s courses that is host to our national teams of youth orchestras, where the best young talent come together for a week of intense music making, learning and fun.
Sumeet is also involved with a project called Bluestrings, a project to promote music in communities, townships and schools, as well as bringing various elements in the arts together (combining western art and contemporary music, etc.) into one show. It also promotes works of young African artists, bands and combined orchestras from different styles of music. Concerts are held in different provinces and introduce new audiences to the arts.
“I hope to come back from the USA and direct this project in a bigger direction with the same and simple idea,” he states.
Sumeet’s advice to young musicians wanting to further their careers in music is to, “Believe in yourself and let the music be your ability to overcome any challenge in life.”
As part of the Sasol Concert series, the National Youth Orchestra (conducted by Gérard Korsten) will play at the Feather Market Centre in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, 27 June at 19:00, and a free concert by the National Youth Concert Orchestra (conducted by Juan Munoz) will be held at 15:00 at the same venue.
The National Youth Orchestra repeats their programme with the Sasol concert at the National Arts Festival at the Guy Butler Theatre on Saturday, 29 June at 11:00, and the Concert Orchestra will perform on Friday, 28 June at the Chapel, Kingswood College, Grahamstown at 15:00.
Tickets can be purchased at Computicket.
Ends
About the National Youth Orchestra (NYO)
The South African National Youth Orchestra was founded in 1964 under the trees in Hartbeespoortdam with 65 young musicians. The aim was to have a place for South Africa’s young musicians to meet and share in the joy of music, and to promote orchestral and chamber music. In 1974 the orchestra went on its first international tour to the International Youth Orchestra Festival in Aberdeen. It was followed by more international tours to Europe (as an example appearing at the Beethovenfest in Bonn) and to Israel and Russia. The orchestra has been broadcast regularly on national television, and by channels like the BBC, the most recent of these was from a concert in 2011 of Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” where the narration was done by none other than Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Apart from the clear advantages of cultural exchange offered by an orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra is a place free from the geographical and financial barriers that continue to separate different South Africans, and is something to be cherished for South Africa’s future.
Sasol’s commitment to the arts started in 1979 when it became a founding member of the South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation (SANYOF). Sasol’s sponsorship in arts extends beyond the National Youth Orchestra. Sasol provides sponsorship to selected sporting, artistic and other organisations and events. These sponsorships help in strengthening the company's role as a corporate citizen. Sasol pursues sponsorships that enhance their brand, inspires creativity and innovation, and creates unique opportunities to build stakeholder relationships.
Issued by:
Alex Anderson, Group Media Manager
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3295; Mobile +27 (0) 71 600 9605;
alex.anderson@sasol.com
Jacqui O’Sullivan, GM: Group Communication
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3252; Mobile +27 (0) 82 883 9697;
jacqui.osullivan@sasol.com
