MIAGI Youth Orchestra and Big Band led by Marino Formenti

In January 2008, Formenti received rave reviews for his debut performance of Messiaen's Des Canyons aux Etoiles, together with Esa Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The Los Angeles Times described him as "…a Glenn Gould for the 21st century, a visionary for whom the usual limitations of either technique or tradition are not an issue." Formenti regularly performs and works with some of the most renowned musicians in the world.

The concert will debut the performance of the newly arranged "Jazz Fantasia" by the late Gideon Nxumalo - one of South Africa's most remarkable musicians of the 50s and 60s, and also includes Beethoven's Leonore Overture no. 3 and Dvorak's symphony "From the New World". This exhilaratingly fun and playful version of "Jazz Fantasia" for symphony orchestra with a 17-piece big band as soloist, brings new life to this classic composition.

Leading up to the concert, the MIAGI young musicians will meet at Heronbridge College on 25 April to 2 May for intensive training by Marino Formenti and skilled, specialised teachers for all the many different instruments, from South Africa and abroad. Denzil Weale, the South African arranger and pianist who has been commissioned by MIAGI to arrange the "Jazz Fantasia" will also work with the Youth Orchestra and Big Band to teach them this inspired new arrangement.

The MIAGI Youth Orchestra and Big Band is made up of young people from across South Africa and from all walks of life. The MIAGI programme continues to provide these aspiring classical and jazz musicians with training and performing opportunities both here and abroad. The MIAGI Youth Orchestra and Big Band holds several courses and concerts annually in South Africa, and a tour across Europe is scheduled for August this year. This youth development programme provides audiences with memorable and inspired performances while also providing priceless opportunities for the musicians involved.

Tickets for the concert are available through Computicket.