The Orchestra currently has seven fellows receiving financial and artistic support from the Mzansi Philharmonic. When not abroad or occupied with their studies, these individuals also perform as members of the Orchestra from time to time. They are all artists who have shown distinction in their field, great promise as professional musicians, and are all an important part of South Africa’s future.
Our current fellows are:
Pendo Masote
Joined the Johannesburg Philharmonic as a Violin Fellow in 2017. Since then he has been a pupil of Akiko Ono at the Yehudi Menuhin School, Britain’s flagship specialist music school, where he recently completed his GCSE (formerly O-levels) with distinctions in Music and Physical Science. He is currently doing his A-levels in Music, English Literature, and History.
Kamogelo Maraba
Started playing the cello at the age of eight, performing at festivals throughout South Africa. Kamogelo has also participated in the South African National Youth Orchestra courses and Pro Corda North Chamber Music Course in North Yorkshire, England. He is the former principal cellist of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and was awarded a fellowship by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020. He is currently an undergraduate at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying under Ben Davies.
Liam Slabbert
Recently graduated from high school and received a full scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London to specialise in bassoon. A bassoonist since the age of nine, under the guidance of Ms Carin Bam, Liam was fortunate enough to receive online classes from Prof Sarah Burnett, who is a lecturer at the Royal College of Music. He has performed as a member of various orchestras, such as the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (Principal Bassoonist), the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra. He joined the Mzansi Philharmonic’s Fellowship programme in August 2022.
Daniël Spies is an 19 year old flutist from Johannesburg, South Africa. By the age of 16, he had not only secured top placements but also the first prize at the top music competitions in South Africa. His dedication and talent led him to Munich, Germany, where he commenced his studies with the internationally acclaimed Professor Andrea Lieberknecht in February 2023. Daniel started his Bachelor studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München in October 2023.
Rory Africa started his music career at the age of 9 in the New Apostolic Church. He received his Diploma in Music Performance from the University of Cape Town with distinction in Ensemble and Viola, specialising in Western Classical Music. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Rory was placed on the Dean’s Merit List. Rory completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance with distinction, under the tutelage of Mrs Paula Gabriel. Rory is currently pursuing studies at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Esihle Mthethwa is an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music in London, studying flute with Emer McDonough and Sue Thomas. She is a Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother scholar, a scholarship fully supported by the Royal College of Music. She won 3rd prize for the 2024 Yamaha South Africa Young Soloists Competition and received the Classical Instrumental Award for the 2023 Fine Music Radio Bursary Trust Awards. In August 2024, she played in the Africa United Youth Orchestra (AUYO). AUYO was one of seven youth orchestras around the world to perform in New York during Carnegie Hall’s World Orchestra Week. She has participated in the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival for a number of years, receiving masterclasses from various flautists, namely Demarre McGill and Julien Beaudiment.
Sicelo Christopher Njapha graduated with a BMus (Bachelor of Music) degree from Stellenbosch University’s Music Department in 2020, where he studied under the tutelage of Babette Roosenschoon. He is now studying for a BMus Honours under Graham du Plessis. Chris began his formal cello lessons at the age of 17, taught by Nigel Fish at the Durban Music School. In 2021, Chris was the ‘young rising star’ performer in the Endler hall concert series. Chris has also worked with the Cape Town as well as the KwaZulu Natal and Mzansi Philharmonic Orchestras. Chris was chosen to participate in the G20 summit Orchestra as one of four South African representatives in Indonesia and toured Vietnam with the World Youth Orchestra as well as a European tour with the MIAGI Orchestra, playing in the Elbphilharmonie, the Berlin Konzerthaus and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
