About Us
Welcome to LEMISA — South Africa's Home for Musicians, Composers, and Creators
LEMISA is a bold new hub for South African and global musicians — a platform built to empower, connect, and elevate the creative community.
Choosing a life in music, art, or performance takes courage. It demands years of devotion, whether through formal study or relentless self-driven practice. Yet too often, musicians can feel isolated, disconnected from the broader networks and opportunities they need to truly thrive.
LEMISA exists to change that. We offer a platform for connection and growth, creating a vibrant ecosystem where musicians, composers, and artists can meet, collaborate, and build sustainable careers. Our mission is simple: put musicians first — with real opportunities, meaningful support, and a global stage on which to shine.
An Inclusive Community of Creators
LEMISA believes in an ethos of openness, kindness, and abundance.
There is room for everyone, and when musicians are supported rather than divided, the entire creative community flourishes.
We invite every part of the musical world to join us:
- Composers, to connect with performers and serve on adjudication panels for our international composition competitions.
- Musicians, to help us grow a new orchestra where players can shape the repertoire and explore innovative programming.
- Bands and ensembles, to be part of a discoverable directory, giving clients, event planners, and fellow musicians an easy way to find and connect with them.
This collaborative network allows musicians to support one another, share ideas, and thrive together.
Championing New Music and Performance
A vital part of our vision is to host international composition competitions, open to composers of all ages and backgrounds.
These competitions focus on developing new sounds and culminate in regular debut performances, bringing fresh, relevant repertoire to life.
We also aim to publish and sell original works and arrangements, especially by local composers and arrangers.
By creating a marketplace for new music, LEMISA encourages publication, supports the voices of today’s creators, and gives musicians direct access to exciting, high-quality repertoire.
Music is more than performance — it’s a living conversation between players, audiences, and cultures.
When musicians are respected, paid fairly, and lifted by their peers, extraordinary things happen:
- Stronger communities
- Richer cultures
- A flourishing creative economy
More musicians playing more often, connecting with larger and more diverse audiences.
A Sustainable Creative Ecosystem
LEMISA envisions a future where creativity and commerce meet, and where passion leads the way, followed by innovation and investment.
We believe that an inclusive ecosystem, extending across diverse genres, naturally creates greater opportunities for everyone involved.
Our goal is simple: to build infrastructure where musicians can lead, and the music itself can grow without limits.
Our Ultimate Dream: Education and Legacy
While our current focus is on building opportunities for today’s musicians, our long-term vision looks to the future.
We aim to create training, educational, and experiential platforms that will nurture the next generation of artists, including:
- A world-class arts high school combining rigorous academics with transformative creative education.
- Tertiary-level programs designed to prepare young musicians for sustainable careers in an ever-changing global arts landscape.
By investing in education, we can ensure that opportunity is abundant and enduring, so future generations of musicians are ready to lead, innovate, and inspire.
Join Us
LEMISA isn’t just about artistry — it’s about building a connected, inclusive future for music, where everyone has a voice.
We invite composers, musicians, ensembles, partners, and visionaries to join us:
- To create,
- To collaborate,
- And to shape a future where musicians and audiences flourish together.
Together, let’s redefine what an orchestra can be, champion new voices, and share our sounds with the world — starting here, in Cape Town, and resonating far beyond.