THIS weekend will see the largest marimba and steelpan festival in the world feature over 1600 performers from all over South Africa, as well as a large contingent from Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Botswana.
Schools and institutions from far and wide are preparing to battle it out for the coveted trophies and prizes to be won and will descend on Benoni on Friday for a weekend of music, marimbas and merriment.
The six esteemed adjudicators for the festival are Andy Narell, steelpan guru from France, Hallie Blejewski, steelpan specialist from the US, marimba specialists Gerard van de Geer from Australia and Bongani Sotshononda from South Africa and Dr Andile Khumalo and South African legend, Pops Mohamed from South Africa.
In addition to the 250 marimba and steelpan performances which take the form of competitions in various categories, there are also over 65 workshops and performances offered to everyone who enters the gate. These include djembe, marimba, steelpan, mbira, Khoisan dance, flamenco dance, Indian dance and gumboot dance.
One of the many highlights of the festival is the massed marimba and steelpan event where over 1000 performers will learn a new piece specifically composed for this event by the event organizer Joan Lithgow.
This piece, entitled Africa, will be learnt from scratch within 40 minutes and then will be performed with all the adjudicators.
There are a number of concerts throughout the two days including two solo performances by Andy Narell and two duo performances by Dave Reynolds and Pops Mohamed.
In addition The Samro Foundation sponsors a composition competition which is judged prior to the festival and the compositions performed at the festival. The Samro Foundation also commissions a new composition each year.
This year the composition Nala, for steelpan, chromatic marimba and chromatic bass marimba was written by Bongani Sotshononda and will be performed by the composer as well as Dave Reynolds on steelpan and Bradley Lithgow on bass marimba.
Over 80 schools and institutions from across the continent will participate in the 5th Annual International Marimaba and Steel Pan Festival.
These include Arboretum Primary School, Acacia Primary School, Aqua Vista, Aston Manor Primary School, Building Blocks Prep, Brackenhurst Primary, Carter Primary School, Christ Church Prep, Curro Embury College, Curro Hca Curro Nelspruit, Curro Hillcrest, Curro Thatchfield, Curro Serengeti, Chiremba Primary School and Dennegeur Farms.
Durban Prep Highs School also participates, as will Epworth High School, Faranuka, Grens Hoerskool, George Randell Primary, Goedehoop Primary, Heideveld Secondary School, Hillbrow Music Center, Hillcrest Primary, Hilton College, Holy Rosary High School, Jikeleza Dance Project, Jiswa School, John Wesley Community Centre, King David Linksfield, Kingsmead Junior School, Kingsmead College, Kleinmond Laerskool, Letlapapula Marimba Band, Maryvale College, Makumbe High School, Mc Kharbai, Mcauley House, Merrifield College And Prep and Michaelhouse.
Motheong Primary will also appear along fellopw schools such as Myc Enjabulweni School, Mzomtsha Primary Owlag, Parktown Girls, Prestige College, Pretoria Oos Laerskool, Protea Glen Boys & Girls Club, Redhill School, Rimba Resonation Vibes, Sakhisizwe High School, Sacred Heart College Jhb, Saheti, Southdowns College, St Benedict’s College, St Catherines School, St Cyprian’s Grammar School, St Dominic’s Boksburg, St Mary’s Dsg Kloof and Still Waters.
Also on the bill are Tambarimba, The Heritage School, The Convent Of Czm Primary, The Mountain Cambridge School, Tshepong Children’s Project, St Thomas Aquinas School, Thembelisha, Thomas More, Tom Newby, Ubuhle Band, Uplands Preparatory School, Usenathi Primary, Waldo Malan Music School, Watershed College, Westville Senior Primary, Zama Montessori and Zimba-Rimba.
The major sponsor for the event is the Department of Arts and Culture with their theme: Building A Better Africa and a Better World.
The venue is Tom Newby School, Master Street, Airfield, Benoni. The event is Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and Sunday from 8am to 5pm. This is a family outing with prices geared towards bringing the whole family for a fun-filled weekend. - Staff Writer
l Information: 011 6857300, www.internationalmarimbafes tival.org. Adults and children: R60 per day for all entertainment including attendance at workshops.Adults: R30 per day for attendance at the marimba and steelpan festival only. Children: R20 per day for attendance at the marimba and steelpan festival only. Block bookings: Thami: 011 6857300 or [email protected]