The 2023 Chronicle

VOCAL ENSEMBLE Back Row: Thato Moumakwa, Max Oliva, Nate Ross-Kent, Tyron Kaufmann, Boitumelo Motsepe, Mark Conway, Luneziwe Mshengu Front Row (seated): Christopher Angel, Mr Thembinkosi Khumalo, Brett Hill, Dr Carika de Swardt, Elijah Kangueechi

performed works that far exceeded the basic standard that is expected of matric pupils. Some of the boys were accompanied by either Mr Jaco Dippenaar or Dr Carika de Swardt, and more contemporary jazz, rock and pop pieces were performed with electronic backing tracks. The nine matric boys were: Thomas Kuhn (trumpet), Sebastian Bailes (piano), Andrew Woodland (saxophone), Sandiso Hlongwa (piano), Bradley de Klerk (voice), Samir Dookie (piano), Enrique Benassi (guitar), Kofi Asumaning (saxophone) and Gqamile Mbuyazi (violin). Of this class, six boys obtained A aggregates for their final IEB matric examinations for Music, with Kofi Asumaning scoring in the top 1% of the country’s results with a stellar 96%. Samir Dookie is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated classical musicians the Music School has seen in recent years. Besides performing at many concerts as a soloist, he also performed the second movement of Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto at the Pretoria symphony orchestra’s Youth Concert Festival on 5 March, and also with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra at the KZN Young Performers Concert in the Durban Playhouse on 14 October.

programmes for the final practical examination to each other and a supportive audience as a practice run for the IEB final practical examination that followed a week later. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES Performance classes are important opportunities for boys who study music as a subject to perform in front of their teachers and peers. During the year, both the junior and senior groups could practise their performance skills at various closed events. A firm favourite on the music calendar is the annual rector’s soirée at which boys from different ages perform for invited staff and parents. Nine A Block music pupils performed at the annual Matric Concert on Friday 15 September. This year the concert was held in the Chapel and was attended by the performers’ parents as well as staff and members of school management. Each of the boys performed a programme of three pieces from a variety of different musical styles and genres. The standard of the performances was exceptionally high, since all of the boys

What beautiful news! Sport heroes get lots of applause, but often the bright musicians are ignored. It takes much more to reach this standard in performance on the piano than playing a sport. Lyndal Katzke, via Facebook

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