The Foundling Museum is delighted to be hosting the internationally renowned South African Buskaid Ensemble for a spellbinding evening concert.
Featuring works by classical composers alongside township ‘Kwela’ music arranged by Buskaid musicians, this concert celebrates the power of music to make real change, and provide transformative opportunities for less advantaged young people. The money raised by this concert will be used to support the work of the Buskaid Music School in Soweto, a Johannesburg township in South Africa, where all the musicians performing were trained.
The Museum is a poignant venue for Buskaid: Buskaid’s Founder, Rosemary Nalden, is the daughter of the late musician and academic Charles Nalden CBE, one of the Foundling Hospital’s most distinguished former pupils. For this musical celebration, the works chosen include the Chaconne from Terpsichore by George Frideric Handel, the Foundling Hospital’s most famous benefactor, and Edward Elgar’s Sospiri, honouring Rosemary’s father, an accomplished harpist who loved Elgar’s music. The concert will end with a rousing burst of township ‘Kwela’ music, arranged by the Buskaid musicians themselves.
About Buskaid
The Buskaid Music School was founded by Rosemary Nalden in 1997 in response to requests from the local community to support burgeoning musicians in Diepkloof, Soweto, South Africa. At its inception it comprised just 15 children; its current membership stands at 82. To meet with this demand, in 2002 Buskaid initiated a teacher-training course for all its students. All the musicians playing in the concert are employed by Buskaid as highly-skilled string teachers.
The Buskaid Ensemble is world-renowned for its high performance standards and its grasp of musical style, and has undertaken 28 international tours to Europe and the Americas. It is the only African orchestra to have performed at the BBC Proms.
The Ensemble has collaborated with many distinguished artists such as Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Melvyn Tan, Steven Isserlis and Karl Jenkins. It has performed in the presence of numerous dignitaries, notably the late Nelson Mandela, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, and Michelle Obama.
The concert will begin at 7pm. Doors will be open from 6pm, and guests are welcome to spend an hour exploring the Foundling Museum. Please note that ticket enquiries are managed by Buskaid, and should be made via the ticket booking page.
Jean-Philippe Rameau – Air pour les Guerriers; Entrée De Polymnie; Contredanses I & II
Henry Purcell – Fairest Isle; Rondeau; If Love’s a Sweet Passion; Chaconne
Edward Elgar – Sospiri (Sighs)
Jean Sibelius – Impromptu
George Frideric Handel – Terpsichore HWV 8b: Chacconne
Kwela, Afro-jazz and Afro-pop (Arr. Buskaid musicians)
Tshidiso Boikanyo; Keabetswe Goodman; Lesang Malema; Solly Mathipa; Makadzi Mabogo, violin
Nthabiseng Malesa; Lesego Mthembu, viola
Koketso Mphela; Tebogo Mushi, cello
Khumo Gumede, double bass
Rosemary Nalden, Director
All tickets include a welcome drink, and after-hours access to the Foundling Museum, including the special exhibition display, 300 Years of the ‘Rival Queens’: Handel’s 1726 Opera Season.
To find out how to get here, including where to eat and drink, view our visitor information page here.
To find out more about access at the Foundling Museum, including how to book a wheelchair, visit our Accessibility page here.