The acclaimed Washington DC Youth Orchestra Program has been on tour in South Africa, 2026. There are two concerts in Cape Town, July 7 & 8, 2026.
We attended last night July 7 at the Hugo Lambrechts Centre in Paarl – beautiful auditorium with comfy seats and lovely acoustics. There is another concert at St Georges Cathedral, Cape Town CBD, tonight, July 8. For the Cape Town concerts, the DCYOP is sharing the stage with the South African Youth Choir, conducted by Phil Robinson. No charge to attend but bookings are advisable, through Quicket.
It was awe inspiring to be there. The energetic, young and supremely talented orchestra bowled us over with their artistry and dynamism. It is difficult to process that this is a youth orchestra. They are poised and confident, with tremendous concentration and focus and with all of that, they are smiling and look like they are loving every moment.
It is enthralling to watch conductor Evan Ross Solomon in action with the orchestra. He REALLY conducts. They watch him for cues. He watches them. It is like watching a musical conversation. Watch the clip of the concert. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BbLKkRu6p/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/Daga2fYt3Ki/ and TikTok https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSCTwxkAJ/:
After the rapturous standing ovation, I chatted to Loretta Thompson, exec director of the DCYOP. She told me that around 65 musicians are on stage for this tour- the first to South Africa. Back home, they have about 90 at the DCYOP. Ages range from 4.5 years and up. The group on stage in SA, ranges from 15-19 years.
The tour has been organized by Classical Movements. It is a mammoth undertaking. The contingent, from the USA clicks in at about 90 – musicians, parents and chaperones.
We were wowed by the programme which includes Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 in G Minor, a piece by the conductor, Evan Ross Solomon and two compositions by two members of the orchestra- Kalman Levitan (18) and Raffi McEachin (17). How amazing is that. More please!
✳ Featured image: Washington D.C. Youth Orchestra Program tour South Africa 2026: Evan Ross Solomon, conductor in middle, flanked by two members of the orchestra – Raffi McEachin (17) and Kalman Levitan (18). Their compositions are part of the concert programme. This pic was taken after the concert in Cape Town at The Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, July 7. There is another concert at St Georges Cathedral, Cape Town CBD, July 8. The DCYOP is sharing the stage with the South African Youth Choir, conducted by Phil Robinson. Pic: Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn
