Africa's Leading Orchestra Turns 25

Message from the Mayor, His Worship, Councillor Obed Mlaba of the eThekwini Municipality on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra at the Durban City Hall on 23 October 2008.
On this grand and momentous occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, I join my colleagues, city officials and the citizens of the eThekwini Municipality and the City of Durban in extending good wishes and goodwill to an organisation that has been an institution to our culturally-enriching city.
The double header celebration at the Pietermaritzburg and the Durban city halls is indeed a fitting tribute to the longstanding contribution made by the KZNPO to both sister cities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The City of Durban and the eThekwini Municipality has enjoyed a long and cordial relationship with the KZNPO and we have witnessed some remarkable transformation changes with the organisation that straddled the old and the new order.
Changes such the appointment of Bongani Tembe as Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and his own musical contribution along with that of his wife, Linda Bukhosini, and the multicultural diversity of the organisation could only be described as a fresh of breath air in a modern metropolis that is marketed as “One City, Many Cultures”.
Through its musical repertoire, track record, credibility and people, the KZNPO has achieved its milestone through the support of our local communities. Over the years, the UKZNPO has become the epitome of a private-public sector partnership and it has also succeeded it sharing its programme with previously disadvantaged communities.
It gives me immense pleasure and pride to extend birthday wishes to the UKZNPO and may the Orchestra continue to remain the cultural ambassadors of our city.Let’s be upbeat and celebrate this marvelous milestone. Researched and written by Marlan Padayachee GreenGold Africa Communications and published in the KZNPO 25th Anniversary Brochure on the occasion of the Durban performance under American guest-conductor Dr Leslie B Dunner on 23 October 2008.