On July 17, Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble celebrates its 25th anniversary with a memorable performance at Joburg's biggest concert hall, the Linder Auditorium. 

The Soweto-based Buskaid music school uplifts previously disadvantaged youth through music teaching and the ensemble has performed across the world at some of the most prestigious concert halls including at the London Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, the Cité de la Musique in Paris and the Bamboo Cathedral in Colombia.

As is the orchestra's signature, the concert programme is a rich mix of old and new classical music favourites from across the world, with some fun modern pop and vibrant Kwela arrangements thrown in to get the crowd on their feet.

The programme for this special anniversary performance includes the world première of “Scarlatti in Soweto,” a quirky, jazzy piece by the renowned British USA-based composer, Julian Grant that was written especially for Buskaid. Also on the programme is a suite of music by the French baroque composer Lully and a performance of Dvořák’s magical “Romance for Violin and Orchestra” led by the brilliant 22-year-old violinist Mzwandile Twala who first learned the violin at Buskaid and now plays for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Phoenix Orchestra.

Buskaid also performs a free concert at the Dutch Church in Diepkloof, Soweto on Sun July 3 at 15:00.