E a s t R a n d
Y o u t h
O r c h e s t r a
VISION:
THE ENHANCEMENT
OF LIFE THROUGH
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.
Historical Development
The East Rand Youth Orchestra was founded in 1978 by the Transvaal Education Department,
and has since provided many educational opportunities for budding young musicians to develop
their talents by playing in a symphony orchestra. At the same time, they have served their
community by performing, by invitation, for various schools, churches, and charities and in
shopping malls. They were also invited to play at the State Theatre twice, as well as at
numerous major youth festivals throughout Gauteng.
The orchestra has performed throughout the East Rand, and as far afield as Johannesburg,
Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Krugersdorp, Natal, Nelspruit, Ermelo and Ceres.
In 1996, the orchestra competed in the Tygerburg Festival, finishing second in their category.
In 1998, at the annual Festival of Youth Orchestras, the orchestra was privileged to play with
the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra from England.
Conductor
Pienaar Fourie is the conductor of the orchestra. He was born in Bloemfontein.
He began violin lessons at the age of thirteen with Jack de Wet, and two years later, appeared
as a soloist with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra. At 15, he also conducted the OFS Youth
Orchestra for the first time.
Pienaar studied in Bloemfontein; Siena (in Italy); and at the Mozartetun (in Salzburg) under
the supervision of Herbert von Karajan. He was a lecturer at the University of Potchefstroom
and a violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra of the SABC. He has also competed in
conducting competitions in South Afiica and France. In 1994 he obtained an M Mus degree with
distinction.
Pienaar Fourie presently conducts the East Rand Youth Orchestra; the West Rand Youth Orchestra;
the Pretoria Philharmonic Youth Orchestra; and the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra. He also
teaches violin for the GDE.
Reportoire
The orchestra has a wide repertoire of music, ranging from classical, including among others
Beethoven, Dvodak, Berlioz, Tcliaikovsky, Handel, Rossini and Haydn; to light popular such as
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Henry Mancini. Pienaar Fourie expects a high standard of musicianship
from the players, and annually, auditions are held for children up to the age of matric.
Currently there are over 50 players.
In 1997, the orchestra was privileged to accompany 'La Flambeau'- a children's choir consisting
of ex- street children from Madagascar. The choir, who now lives in a mission in Antananarivo,
extended an invitation to the orchestra to tour their country. This was in aid of their
outreach program, as well as to promote classical and popular music. The aim was also to
foster good relations between the children of both nations.
Consequently, the orchestra toured Madagascar in April 1998.This was the first visit by a
symphony orchestra to Madagascar since 1971 and it was a huge success. A total of 16 concerts
were given to audiences ranging from street children to scholars, ambassadors and diplomats.
Local choirs sang with the orchestra and local musicians joined the orchestra for some
concerts, playing their traditional instruments. Many new friends were made. The children
were extremely impressed by the generous Malagasy hospitality, despite the dire poverty of
their conditions. The local community opened their homes to our children, and anyone with a
smattering of French was highly in demand.
