Masote’s Dream – which is being presented at the Soweto Theatre from July 15 to 26 – is an inspiring journey into the life of one of South Africa’s most iconic classical musicians, Matlhaela Michael Masote who, during the apartheid era, founded the first black youth orchestra.

The Soweto Youth Orchestra, now named the Soweto Symphony Orchestra, gave birth to one of the most internationally acclaimed musical groups to come out of South Africa, the Soweto String Quartet.

Michael Masote’s biography is about how he pursued his dream as an 11-year-old who was deeply moved when he heard internationally renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin perform in Soweto. This led to his fight against a racist regime to form the first ‘all black orchestra’ during the apartheid years.

When Dutch director Dagmar Slagmolen, who specialises in telling stories in which the narrative is driven forward by music, met him in April 2014 she was determined to tell his gripping life story. Slagmolen teamed up with Masote’s son, Kutlwano, and the Dutch-based artistic company, Orkater to create a vibrant production with nine South African actors and musicians about one man, one dream, and the struggle against an absurd regime.

This dynamic production is the moving tale about a young boy who taught himself how to play the violin using only a wooden plank and who, on completing his matric was denied the opportunity to study music at a tertiary institution in South Africa.

Determined to pursue his dream, Masote went to study abroad at the Royal Schools of Music in London, where he obtained a licentiate in violin teaching in 1973. It was only in 1998 that a South African institution, the University of South Africa (Unisa), awarded him his B Mus degree, making him the first black South African to obtain such a degree. He received an Honorary Licentiate in music from Unisa in 2005.

Masote’s Dream was initiated as an idea spurred on by Zuko Nodada. It has since evolved as a production led by Thambo Theatre in partnership with PACOFS, Orkater theatre company from Amsterdam, The Soweto Theatre and the National Arts Festival.

Tickets R80. Performance times: 11 am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 3 pm on Sunday.