Some of the most enriching and inspiring activities for Sowetan ARCO students have been ARCO-arranged supported travel and participation in major festivals and musical collaborations across South Africa. In 2019 eight ARCO students were invited to perform at the “Voorkamerfest” in Darling, Western Cape where they gave seven performances of their very own show “Beethoven was 1/16th Black”.
A few weeks later all twenty-three ARCO students were sponsored to travel to Cape Town where they spent four days staying with host families, collaborating with Rustenburg Girls High School and performing at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront.
These four photos show the ARCO students who travelled to perform in the “Voorkamerfest” in 2019. Preparation concert in Johannesburg, photo shoot at MICM and photos from performances in Darling.
In both 2022 and 2023 a small group of ARCO students have been supported to attend the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival where they performed a unique ARCO concert of almost entirely South African music, and in some cases music they had composed themselves. In addition, they were involved with the orchestral and chamber music activity that runs throughout the festival, enjoying the opportunity to play big symphonic repertoire and also play chamber music with other South African musicians.
