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Miagi Orchestra @ Royal Concertgebow Amsterdam

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: David Panzl

MIAGI Orchestra ‘Searching the African Footprint’

This year’s edition of our orchestra takes a slightly new turn on our existing profile. We create

our original orchestra sound by fusing a classical orchestra with a full jazz band and top it with

a huge percussion ensemble. Naturally this unique lineup requires an equally unique program.

Therefore, we went on a search for the African footprint. What we found was an exciting

program in the field of tension between African diaspora and the overcoming of ethnic

differences and we will be presenting following composers in special arrangements by David

Panzl and Markus Geiselhart, for our orchestra of 62 musicians: George Gershwin, the United

States (1898 – 1937), Anders Paulsson, Sweden (1961 - ), Tshepo Tsotetsi, South Africa (1991

- ), Musawenkosi Mdluli, South Africa (1991 - ), Silvestre Revueltas, Mexico (18

99 – 1940), Joe

Zawinul, Austria (1932 – 2007), Marcus Geiselhart, Germany/Austria (1977 - ), David Panzl,

Austria (1985 - ), Viwe Mkizwana, South Africa (1983 - ), Miles Davis, the United States (1921

– 1991)

It is possible that opportunities arises for the entire touring programme, or selected works in

it, to be recorded.

The African diaspora that originally due to slave trade populated Mexico, Cuba and North

America from the 1500s onwards, and the footprints they created there are well documented.

In this programme we are searching these musical footprints among others through Mexican,

Cuban, American, Malian, Austrian and not the least, also through our South African young

composers and creative footprint searchers. A number of the young musicians that MIAGI has

supported, educated and promoted throughout the years have developed into skilful

improviser composers with their capabilities anchored in both classical, jazz, and urban music

traditions.

In December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 68/237 by which it

proclaimed 2015 to 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent, with

the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. One of the

specific objectives for the International Decade:

To promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and

contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies4 of 5

ABOUT THE MIAGI ORCHESTRA

Although the MIAGI Orchestra finds its roots in the townships of South Africa, MIAGI has since 2003

focused on developing a programme where young people from all over the country and from all walks

of life have musically engaged through the orchestra programme.

Over the years the orchestra developed into the internationally feted MIAGI Orchestra, an orchestra

that has performed not only in South Africa, but toured Europe extensively in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016,

2018 am 2019. The ensemble most profoundly demonstrates the interconnectedness and mutually

enriching dialogue between the African traditional, jazz, Western classical, contemporary and urban

music styles of today.

Major festivals where the MIAGI Orchestra performed: Carinthischer Sommer (two festival seasons),

Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele (three festival seasons), Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival (two festival

seasons), Young Euro Classic (five festival seasons), Gustav Mahler Festival Toblach, Verbier Festival,

Robeco Summer Concerts Amsterdam (two festival seasons).

Major concert halls where MIAGI Orchestra performed: Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Berliner

Philharmonie, Young Euro Classic at Konzerthaus Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Palais des

Beaux-Arts Brussels.

Other major venues that have hosted the MIAGI Orchestra: The Almedalen Week Democratic Forum

in Visby Sweden, Rikssalen at the Royal Castle in Stockholm and the European Parliament in Brussels.

Film participation Documentary about MIAGI and our orchestra in the context of the legacy of Nelson

Mandela, directed by Oscar-winning director of short documentary Orlando von Einsiedel, produced by

The Nobel Prize and presented by The Nobel Prize and National Geographic.

MIAGI Orchestra’s conductors: Cem Mansur, Maxim Vengerov, Patrick Lange, Marino Formenti,

Christian Muthspiel, Sasha Mäkilä, Brandon Phillips, Duncan Ward, Daniel Spaw

MIAGI Orchestra’s soloists: Daniel Hope, Anders Paulsson

MIAGI Orchestra has received support from among others: the Government of the Republic of South

Africa, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa, the Swedish International

Development Agency through the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria, the Government of Finland through

the Embassy of Finland in Pretoria, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the

Embassy of Germany in Pretoria, the Goethe Institut, the Government of Austria through the Embassy

of Austria in Pretoria and the National Lottery Commission.

Total South Africa Pty Ltd/South Africa, Lanxess Pty Ltd/South Africa, Daun &Cie. AG, Mercedes-Benz

South Africa Ltd, Robert Bosch Pty Ltd/South Africa, Yellowwoods Ventures Investments Pty Ltd.

Barbara and Wilfried Mohr Foundation, Förderverein Khayelitsha, Oppenheimer Memorial Trust,

Fynbos Ekwiteit Propriety.


Picture: © Flashtag Photography



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