The 2025 Chronicle

COMPETITION MARIMBA BAND Back Row: Tyron Kaufmann, Timotheos Papadopoulos, Thembekile Ntuli, Reese Hill, Nate Ross-Kent, Brent Tayengwa Second Row: Mvelo Zondo, Ngkwete Tlailane, Ben Viljoen, Michael Ngorima, Front Row (seated): Joseph Gilson, Khwezi Dube, Louis Ayo (Captain), Dr Carika de Swardt, Musumbandila Tshivhase (Vice-captian), Nyiko Mboweni, Ziyanda Hlongwa

and hosting of the inaugural National High Schools Marimba Competition on 29-30 September. Twenty six teams – includ ing two Michaelhouse bands – competed across five catego ries, with sponsorship from African Musical Instruments and Standard Bank ensuring a professional and high-profile event. The Michaelhouse Competition Band achieved excellent re sults, placing second in the “Timeless Classix” category, first in “Rhythm Fusion” and second in “Global Harmony”, while also winning the “Mzanzi Fo’ Sho!” category. The Second Band add ed to the school’s success by placing third in “Rhythm Fusion” and second in the optional “Compose Your Vibe” category. In the final standings the Competition Band ultimately placed third overall. The Second Band placed second in the High Schools Development Section, and the Junior Development category was won by Richards Bay Primary.

er talent-based band structure. A new, Second Band was formed from promising E-B Block musicians, while the Junior Band was consolidated with a stronger foundation of E Block pupils. This restructuring revitalised morale, enhanced disci pline, and markedly improved the developmental pathway for younger musicians. On 23 July the Competition Band performed at a luncheon at St Anne’s before travelling later that day to appear as guest artists at the St Mary’s DSG Marimba Showcase. One of the year’s highlights took place on 2 August, when 26 Michael house boys joined more than 1 200 participants at Cape Town’s Grand Arena at GrandWest to successfully break the record for the world’s largest marimba ensemble. Each boy received an official medal and certificate in recognition of this remarkable achievement. The tour continued with a public performance at the V&A Waterfront on 3 August, which was particularly energising for the younger musicians of the Sec ond and Junior Bands, who could perform alongside the Com petition Band members. Additional concerts at La Rochelle Girls’ High School in Paarl on 4 August and Herschel Girls School in Cape Town on 5 August further broadened the boys’ performance experience. The latter performance was espe cially memorable, as videos shared by Herschel girls went vi ral, receiving more than 44 000 views online and countless matric dance invitations.

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS MARIMBA COMPETITION RESULTS CATEGORY 1: TIMELESS CLASSIX 1st Richards Bay Primary 2nd Michaelhouse Competition Band 3rd Northwood

CATEGORY 2: RHYTHM FUSION 1st

The biggest event of the year was undoubtedly the organization

Michaelhouse Competition Band

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