The Youth Orchestra & Friends from the New Apostolic Church Western Germany spent ten days in South Africa. The highlight of the trip was the concert with the NAC Young People’s Choir in front of an audience of over 4,500.
From 11 to 21 April 2025, the Youth Orchestra & Friends travelled to Cape Town in South Africa. The ensemble consists of up to 300 young musicians from the New Apostolic Church of Western Germany and usually meets once a year for a three-day rehearsal weekend with a final concert (we reported).
Concert as the highlight
The orchestra had been preparing for the trip to South Africa for three years. The young people collected donations and practised for the big concert with the Young People’s Choir of the New Apostolic Church Southern Africa. It took place on Wednesday evening, 16 April, in the Grand West Arena, one of the largest event halls in the region.
The music ranged from classical masterpieces to film music and a South African medley. In addition to the orchestra and choir, several soloists also impressed the audience. The official programme ended with the song “Here I Am”, the anthem of the 2019 International Youth Convention in Düsseldorf (Germany).
The orchestra and choir performed together under the direction of Burkhard Schmitt from Germany and Jason Atherton from South Africa. Around 4,000 viewers from Germany watched a livestream of the concert.
Donations for needy children
In keeping with the concert motto “It’s time to do good!” the trip combined musical achievements with social commitment: the young people from Germany had brought school supplies with them in their suitcases. The coloured pencils, watercolour paint boxes, and glue sticks were donated to the Masakhe Foundation’s After-School Safe Spaces Programme.
In addition, Apostle Gerd Kisselbach and orchestra project manager Ingo Bürger presented a symbolic cheque for 100,000 rand (around 5,000 euros) to the aid organisation. The money will be used to support children at the After-School Safe Spaces Centre in Delft, where children find a safe space to play and learn after school in a New Apostolic church.
Supporting programme and meetings
The trip offered a varied cultural programme: there were trips to the beach, a visit to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with a harbour tour and an excursion to the penguin colony in Betty’s Bay. When they visited the Root 44 Market in Stellenbosch, they were warmly welcomed by the local youth group.
A visit to Table Mountain, Cape Town’s landmark, will remain unforgettable. There were stunning views of the city, its suburbs, the harbour, and the bay. Many souvenir photos were taken in this spectacular setting in glorious sunshine.
The young people also made new friends: after the rehearsals and the concert there was the opportunity to socialise with the members of the Young People’s Choir. On Good Friday, the German and South African young people met for a picnic and games in Green Point Park.
Three church services organised
After the kick-off event on Palm Sunday in the Tafelsig church, the orchestra—divided into three groups—provided musical support for the Good Friday services in the congregations of Erica-East, Scottsdene, and Saxonsea with a specially prepared music programme.
The trip ended with the Easter Day service in the Lavistown congregation, an eastern suburb of Cape Town. Apostle Robert Worship conducted this service for the members of the congregation and the young people, who filled a large part of the gallery with their instruments.
The young people were particularly impressed by the hospitality. “Take the impressions and enthusiasm you have experienced here back to your home congregations,” was the final wish of the South African hosts and the youth orchestra’s management: “Share your experiences and show through your behaviour that everyone can experience Jesus. He is the answer and our future.”
Photos: Jessica Krämer
