Pretoria Symphony Orchestra (PSO)

Bio

The Pretoria Symphony Orchestra is a self-funded community orchestra that has been a presence on the cultural scene in Pretoria for more than 10 years. Its members include full-time and part-time musicians, music teachers and students, while many others in the orchestra have regular day-jobs but have attained a high level of competence on their instruments due to their passion for music and the many hours of their spare time that they devote to perfecting their skills.

The orchestra aims to challenge and develop the musicians in the orchestra, to stimulate interest in less familiar classical works amongst the concert-going public, and to perform classical repertoire that is well-known and popular with general audiences. The PSO usually gives symphony or chamber concerts four or five times each year. It has performed for schools, churches, corporate functions, television and radio broadcasts and to raise funds for charity. Well-respected local musicians who have performed with the orchestra include the soprano Deidre Blignaut and pianists Inette Swart, Tinus Botha and Charl du Plessis. The PSO has performed under the direction of Tim Roberts, Eric Rycroft, Robert Maxim and Eddie Clayton, amongst others. Currently occupying the position of full-time conductor is Gerben Grooten, originally from the Netherlands, who has both local and international experience as a classical percussionist and conductor.

To join the orchestra, applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency, but we welcome younger players and currently have four 'families' of musicians within our ranks, thus proving that the generation gap is no barrier where great music is concerned. PSO rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7-10pm at the Gereformeerde Kerk on the corner of Lange and Dey in Nieuw Muckleneuk.

Photos

ZAPretoria, South Africa
In operation since: 
2001

Contact

+27731512211
Elaine Holliday
Profile added by DJ Okapi on 14 Aug 2014
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