Ofentse Pitse aspired to be an artist but ended up choosing architecture due to advice about financial stability. Little did she know she would make history by becoming the first Black woman in South Africa to own and conduct an orchestra, securing her place as the youngest on the continent. Being hand-picked by Alicia Keys to conduct a diverse seventy-four-person orchestra and collaborating with Kabza de Small for a unique amapiano performance were dreams she hadn’t fathomed.
Attributing her success to her mother’s teachings of resilience, Pitse stepped into the world of music through the Salvation Army, where she began playing the trumpet. The organic progression of her journey led her to establish Anchored Sound, a 40-piece orchestra and 25-person choir in 2019, under the mentorship of renowned conductors such as Thami Zungu and Gerben Grooten.
She describes her journey into conducting as a natural evolution, starting with forming a choir and gradually incorporating various instruments until the need for a conductor arose. Pitse shares her influences, preparation rituals before performances, and her ambitious long-term aspirations in an exclusive with TunesDeck.
Ofentse Pitse: At a young age, I witnessed the profound impact of music on gatherings, laying the foundation for my mission to move people spiritually through my craft. My journey into conducting unfolded organically when I initiated a youth choir, gradually expanding it with additional instruments until necessitating a conductor, which led me to seek mentorship in 2019.
My gratification lies in witnessing a societal shift towards embracing orchestra, choir, and classical music as inclusive spaces. Confronting the challenges of exceeding my perceived boundaries by diligently preparing and investing extensive effort until perfection is achieved is my approach.
Prior to performances, I engage in solitude to immerse myself fully in the music creation process, avoiding distractions from media and prioritizing rest and well-being. My ultimate goal is to inspire my community to embrace classical music and orchestral arts, envisioning the establishment of music training programs to foster talent development, a pivotal long-term objective requiring collective effort.
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