The Injyana Ensembles will return today with orchestra music in a concert dubbed ‘Injyana and Friends’ at the Christ Church Rwanda in Gacuriro. The concert will be done free of charge. 

The ensemble includes the ‘Injyana Orchestra Rwanda’, the ‘Injyana Jazz Big Band’, ‘Injyana Community Band’ and they will be joined by ‘The Beginning Strings’ an ensemble made up of students who have been playing for two years.

This is the fourth performance for the ensemble since it was formed in 2012 combining people from different cultures, professions and age groups.

The conductor of the ensembles Lance Gaskill says that it’s encouraging and uplifting to see young people who didn’t know a thing about music jumping at the opportunity to play.

"I am really excited about that, these young players are learning and performing with the orchestra for the first time. These are opportunities that you hear in Europe, Asia and the United States,” he says

Gaskill promised pieces like Beethoven’s 5th symphony, a recognizable piece which will be played for the first time in Rwanda, Mozart and more. Injyana aims to blend classical, jazz and new school music.

Just like at previous performances, there will be guest performers including composer and pianist Richard Carrick, who plays with the New York Philharmonic who will premier his piece titled "Waterfall”.

Other guest performers include Urukundo Children’s Home, Gitarama where Injyana conduct a string program and the Green Hills Academy ‘Top Band’ who staged an exhibition concert at the Car Free Zone early this month. 

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