The Johannesburg Festival Orchestra made its debut in concert with Julian Lloyd-Webber, at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, in 1998. The musicians were all key members of the National Symphony Orchestra, the State Theatre Orchestra and the National Chamber Orchestra, all of which had then been recently disbanded.

This orchestra is unique in the South African context, because of its versatility. In any given week, the musicians can be called upon to play school concerts in Soweto, while in the same time rehearsing for big outdoor pops concerts, and preparing for overseas artists such as Joshua Bell and Lynn Harrell.

The management and the musicians are totally committed to bringing music to as wide an audience as possible.They believe sincerely that the youth in South Africa will be the audiences and performers of the future, and are doing as much as they can to educate and touch the lives of as many South Africans as possible through live performances, television and radio. Some prominent overseas artists accompanied by JFO to date include:

Julian Lloyd-Webber, Sarah Brightman, Carl Rosa Opera Company, Pavarotti, Lord Yehudi Menuhin, 3 Tenors, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Vanessa-Mae, St Petersburg Ballet, Helmut Lotti, Dance Theatre of Harlem, IL Divo, Joshua Bell, Lynn Harrell, Florian Uhlig, Josh Groban, Patrizio Buanne, Kanye West

Local TV broadcasts include Woza Afrika, Sewende Laan Ball, and Nation Building Massed Choir Festival. Annual concerts include the 702 Zoo concert (15th year), Last Night of the Proms (11th year), outreach concerts in Eldorado Park (9th year). They are also the Orchestra-in-Residence at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, and have performed shows such as Rock Legends, Rat Pack and The Merry Widow, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Simply Ballroom.
They have recorded two Starlight Classics CD’s and the recent Bala Brothers CD.

In recent years, the JFO accompanied the South African Ballet Theatre in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Traviata, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet, and most recently played for the William Kentridge production of Mozart’s Magic Flute to excellent reviews. For the past three years the JFO has been proud to be the Orchestra-in-Residence for the 2005 to 2007 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

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