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Etienne Mecloen

CEO AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Etienne hails from Cape Town where he received his training at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre on trombone and euphonium under Johan Pretorius and later Sean Kierman.

He joined the SA Army Band Cape Town in 1997 and continued his career in Port Elizabeth where he focused on instrumental and ensemble training from 2002. During this time, he conducted many orchestral performances with youth bands, choosing to specialise in wind ensembles.

In 2007 Etienne joined the SA Air Force Band where he started to specialise in band directing. In 2011, he became the conductor of the Johannesburg Youth Symphonic Wind Band, a position he still holds.  In 2013 Etienne was appointed Operations Manager at the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra NPC and appointed CEO in January 2019. Etienne is the principal trombonist for the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, a member of the Johannesburg Big Band and part of many other ensembles and orchestras for various productions in South Africa.

Etienne has had Master classes in Jazz Trombone with John Davies (RSA), Graham Beyer (RSA) and internationally renowned Jazz Trombonist, John Fedchock (USA).

He has also performed as a classical soloist in Vienna, Prague, Germany and Switzerland as part of international youth music festivals, touring with the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra, Stellenbosch University Orchestra and Ed U College Choir. Etienne performed with South African artists: Lira, Danny K, Loyiso, Sibongile Khumalo, Don Laka, Themba Mkhize, Prime Circle, Parlotones, Tamara Dey, Lloyd Cele, Zwai Bala, Elvis Blue, Freshlyground, International Artist, Andrea Bocelli, Patrizio Buanne, Helmut Lotti, and Josh Groban amongst others.

Etienne has worked on outreach programmes for the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, teaching and band directing at Greenwood Primary School. While in Port Elizabeth, Etienne directed the then Nelson Mandela University (NMU) Big band (later becoming the Madiba Bay Jazz Orchestra) and had a successful Brass Quintet.

Etienne studied conducting with Dutch conductor, Gerben Grooten and was a semi-finalist in the Len van Zyl conductor’s competition in 2013, hosted by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.

He has completed business management studies and in 2018 completed a diploma in Operations Management through University of Stellenbosch Business School.

Etienne holds an Associate Diploma in Music Performance through Trinity College (London) and also holds a qualification in Military Band directing.

He has had extensive training in conducting symphonic wind bands, jazz ensembles, symphony orchestras and choirs throughout his career with Sean Kierman (USA/RSA), Johan Pretorius (RSA), Prof. Victor Yampolsky (USA), Gerben Groten (Netherlands), James Ross (USA) and Dr. Phil Golson (USA).

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