MZANSI PHILHARMONIC’S NATIONAL TOUR 2025
The tour took place from 11–16 December 2025 and comprised four public concerts across three cities: Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. For the first time ever, the orchestra delivered two performances in Johannesburg, reflecting both strong demand and increased access for national audiences. The inclusion of Durban as a host city further strengthened the tour’s reach and resonance.
Across all performances, audiences responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, reaffirming the Mzansi Philharmonic’s role as South Africa’s National Orchestra and highlighting the continuing appetite for orchestral music that blends artistic excellence with cultural connection.
ARTISTIC VISION AND REPERTOIRE
Voices of Home celebrated South African heritage while embracing global musical collaboration. The programme, under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Marin Alsop, featured a blend of classical masterworks alongside South African repertoire, including the tour debut of Abel Selaocoe’s Four Spirits Cello Concerto. This work, deeply rooted in South African soundscapes, resonated powerfully with audiences and exemplified the orchestra’s commitment to artistic diversity and transformation.
Performances consistently received high praise from critics and audiences alike, who highlighted the orchestra’s technical excellence, emotional impact, and ability to convey a uniquely South African narrative through music.
WE GREW THE NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES
In previous years, we hosted 3 flagship performances, 1 community concert and where possible, a workshop or two. This year, for a marginally higher cost, we presented 4 flagship concerts and 3 community concerts. The high leverage effect was obvious: our reach drastically increased, our musicians were paid more in session fees, and our overall capacity expanded.
WE LAUNCHED A MERCHANDISE RANGE FOR PUBLIC SALE
Mzansi Philharmonic merch has, from our very beginning, been a huge hit with our internal stakeholders. We felt it was time to make merchandise sales public and, beyond concerts, the orchestra leveraged the tour to strengthen audience engagement and brand impact. The Mzansi Philharmonic’s ongoing merchandise range — including branded apparel and commemorative items — was highlighted during the tour, providing tangible ways for audiences to connect with the orchestra. This merchandise is part of a strategic plan to develop a social enterprise, generating revenue while promoting the orchestra’s work and supporting South African creative talent.
In addition, the tour featured a creative collaboration with visual artist Azola Kingston, whose artwork was integrated into promotional materials, stage visuals, and merchandise. Kingston’s designs reflected the themes of Voices of Home — memory, identity, and community — and reinforced the orchestra’s commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration and support for the broader South African arts sector.
WE TRIALLED A FOOD COURT IN CAPE TOWN
Adding to the experiential nature of our concerts, we trialled an outdoor food court in Cape Town. Audiences members and musicians mingled in a cordoned off area outside the Cape Town City Hall and enjoyed dinner before the show and during the interval. This proved highly popular and we’re excited to find ways to continue developing the concept.
SECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING
The tour also advanced professional development and sector collaboration. A composers’ masterclass with Laura Karpman provided emerging South African composers with mentorship and international insight, while an even bigger convening of the Network of Orchestras in South Africa facilitated dialogue, collaboration, and strategic alignment across the sector. These initiatives reinforced the Mzansi Philharmonic’s leadership in fostering a sustainable, connected national orchestral ecosystem.
