title: KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra
text: # KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra
  
  The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO) is a professional orchestra based in Durban, South Africa. It was founded in 1983 under the name Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO).
  
  ## Funding
  
  The KZNPO receives funding from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Municipality, the national Department of Arts and Culture, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Department of Arts and Culture, South African National Lottery, the National Arts Council of South Africa, the Rupert Music Foundation and various individual donors.
  
  ## Staff
  
  The orchestra's chief executive and artistic director is Bongani Tembe, who in 2019 celebrated 25 years in the position. British musician Andrew Young was a member of the orchestra as clarinetist, bass clarinetist and saxophonist from September 1989 till April 1996.
  
  ## Repertoire
  
  In August/September 2009, the KZNPO accompanied soprano Renée Fleming on a concert tour to Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town.
  
  In April 2011, the orchestra played the world premiere of Bongani Ndodana-Breen's opera Winnie the Opera at the State Theatre, Pretoria, with soprano Tsakane Maswanganyi in the title role of Winnie Mandela.
  
  