Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) was founded by Prof. Leo Quayle and started to operate in 1965 under PACT’s jurisdiction. In 1987 there was a merger with the financially troubled SABC orchestra and the resulting entity was called the National Symphony Orchestra. the two entities were separated into and called The Red and The Blue orchestras. However, the merger proved to be non-sustainable and a split followed in 1991. The orchestra that remained under PACT’s control was named the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO). The second orchestra was relaunched as the National Symphony Orchestra.

In 1997 the TPO was again renamed, this time to the New Arts Philharmonic Orchestra of Pretoria (NAPOP) but remained under PACT’s umbrella with Maestro Gerard Korsten as Chief Conductor.

For more information, see National Symphony Orchestra and New Arts Philharmonic Orchestra of Pretoria.

Sources

Polina Burdukova. 2010. 'An analysis of the status of orchestras in South Africa'. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Pretoria.

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