Hout Bay musician Lucien Lewin returns as chair of Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
Lucien Lewin, a former Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra trombonist and Hout Bay resident, has been appointed as the orchestra’s incoming board chair.
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Hout Bay resident and former musician with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Lucien Lewin, has been appointed as the incoming chair of the orchestra’s board in what he describes as a deeply personal “homecoming”.
Lewin performed as a trombonist with the orchestra between 1998 and 2005 before pursuing a successful legal career.
He now serves as a partner at a global law firm, specialising in dispute resolution and commercial litigation.
The orchestra announced his appointment last week, saying his leadership would mark “an exciting new chapter” for the institution.
Speaking about his new role, Lewin said returning to the orchestra in a leadership position felt “deeply meaningful and humbling”.
“Having once sat within the orchestra as a musician, I have experienced first-hand the dedication, discipline, and passion that go into bringing performances to life,” he said.
Lewin grew up in Retreat and Heathfield and said music shaped his ambitions from a young age.
Reflecting on his childhood, he said he remembered admiring Cape Town’s orchestras while growing up on the Cape Flats and dreaming of one day becoming part of that world.
Before entering the legal profession, Lewin taught brass at schools across Cape Town and said music education remains critically important in South Africa.
“Beyond developing musical ability, it builds discipline, confidence, teamwork, listening skills and creative thinking,” he said.
Lewin said one of his priorities as incoming chair would be to make orchestral music more accessible to communities and young people across Cape Town.
He also praised the orchestra’s long-standing grassroots education programmes, saying many current musicians had progressed through youth development initiatives over the past two decades.
Lewin added that representation in the arts was important, especially for young people from disadvantaged communities.
“When young people see musicians on stage with whom they can identify, it reinforces the belief that this space belongs to them too,” he said.
According to the orchestra’s CEO and artistic director, Adriaan Fuchs, Lewin brings a strong combination of artistic understanding, leadership, and professional experience to the role.
Lewin said he hopes the orchestra will continue opening its doors to more communities across the Western Cape.