The Chronicle 2022

in Concert hosted by Hilton College, the Michaelhouse Culture Week’s Orchestra and Band Showcase, and the Michaelhouse Jazz Jam Session @ VdeV. The ensemble’s repertoire drew mainly from the arrangements of New York based band Lucky Chops , with the hard-driving funk pieces of September , originally composed by Earth, Wind, and Fire , and Buyo being fan favourites. In the last quarter of the year, the ensemble went through yet another transformation, with the addition of a pianist and electric bass guitarist. This evolution led to the formation of the Michaelhouse Junior Jazz Band. This ensemble aims to prepare learners for the rigors of the Michaelhouse Jazz Band in their senior years and ensures popular music styles continue to flourish at the school. This installment of the band performed the piece Watermelon Man at the Michaelhouse Jazz Jam Session at Highgate Wine Estate. This performance was well-executed and memorable. MARIMBA BAND REPORT The marimba programme is led by Ms Carika de Swardt and the three bands in this programme had a very successful year. Not only did they learn many new songs, but they also transformed how they performed, involving and inspiring audiences across the province. The programme consists of the Junior Band, Senior Band, and the Competition Band. Due to their popularity and level of excellence, the bands were invited to perform at many other schools and events. 2022 started with the Society Fair at which the Competition Band had its first performance. During the second quarter, all three bands completed a workshop with the professional percussionist, Mr Bryan Clarke. All three marimba bands performed at the annual Two Schools Concert with Hilton College on 16 June. This concert was the first of a series of events that formed part of the 2022 Culture Week from 16 – 23 June. During this week Michaelhouse hosted marimba bands from four other schools in the Indoor Centre for a concert and they also played during the Hilton-Michaelhouse derby. It was a special moment for the boys to play with some of the Old Boys who previously belonged to the band. Besides other performances mentioned earlier in this report, the Competition Marimba Band was invited to perform at Clifton Nottingham Road’s Grade 7 Art Exhibition in October. This was the last performance in which the A Block boys participated and the first occasion where some of the newly selected members could play as a part of the band. The occasion was truly a joyous celebration of a successful year’s work, and the audience of parents and children honoured this amazing group with a standing ovation. The departing matrics were Max Chapman (leader), Xihluke Marhule (deputy leader), Tomas Szudrawski, Mayenziwe Nene, Joshua Hadley-Grave, Letlotlo Sekatle, and Michael Dalgleish. The newly elected leaders of the band, Sandiso Hlongwa (leader) and Gqamile Mbuyazi (deputy leader) started teaching new repertoire and the integration of the eight new band members has gone smoothly. CHAPEL CHOIR REPORT The return of public performances and combined chapel services meant that the choir had to plan and select a repertoire

that would meet the requirements of the whole year. This required a more rigorous approach and boys were expected to individually be tested on their knowledge and application of key repertoire, as well as paying attention to attendance to see which boys had the stamina to see the choir year through to the end. E Block boys who passed the initial auditions were offered a place and a strong E Block group emerged and were successfully integrated into the choir. The challenge was to measure contribution not only in performances but also in rehearsals and the new repertoire needed to be learned timeously. Intern and Masters’ Conducting student, Mr Jacques Linde, used members of the Michaelhouse Chapel Choir to form a chamber choir to sing for his Masters’ examination – his involvement in the choir as Assistant Conductor proved to be invaluable. Mr Linde was offered an exciting new position at the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School and left to take up his post at the start of July 2022. The choir managed to prepare the following works: Gloria , Sanctus , and Agnus Dei from the Saviour’s Mass by M Pege. For the ATKV Applous the choir also prepared the prescribed piece, Ons het die brieke losgedraai (We have taken off the brakes) by Niel van der Watt, Let all men sing! , O love that will not let me go by Elaine Hagenberg, Pouveer (Peacock Feather) by Dalene Brits, and an authentic indigenous programme. For Remembrance Day and the Carol Service The Prayer, When Christ the Son of Mary both arranged by Dalene Brits, and a Sesotho prayer, Modimo re boka wena (The Lord bless you) were prepared. Besides the choir’s music ministry of singing in official chapel services like Ash Wednesday, Board Chapel, Confirmation Service, Eucharists, Remembrance Day, and Carol Services, the choir also had the opportunity to perform twice at St Anne’s Diocesan College, at the Two Schools in Concert with Hilton College, host the Cultural Week Choral Festival, and share the stage with the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School and the University of Johannesburg Choir at a provincial Choral Celebration in the Schlesinger Theatre on 13 August. Speech Day was the last opportunity for A Block boys to perform with the choir and so the 2022 choir year ended with the choir’s performance of an African Joy Medley at Speech Day on 15 October. VOCAL ENSEMBLE The group started the 2022 season with a performance at the Easter Service at St John’s DSG on 24 March. Further performances happened at the Choral Celebration at St Anne’s Diocesan College, the Two Schools Concert at Hilton College, as well as at the Choral Celebration Concert which Michaelhouse hosted during the cultural week in June. The founding members of the ensemble, Adrian Hill, Ayanda Nongauza, Letlotlo Sekatle, Xihluke Marhule, and David Nienaber, graciously bowed out to make space for four new members in the fourth quarter, who started learning new music for the annual Carol Service. The new group will be under the leadership of Bradley de Klerk. EXTERNAL MUSIC EXAMINATIONS Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Trinity Guildhall, Trinity Rock & Pop, and Rock School. The following results were obtained this year:

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