Dainfern College celebrated its high school’s senior marimba band recently after they achieved great success in the International Marimba and Steelpan Festival, held at St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls in Boksburg.
This was the first time the school had entered this prestigious festival, which is the largest of its kind in the world.
A team of 25 students competed in three categories for Large High School Marimba Bands against bands from Zimbabwe, Botswana and around South Africa. After two intense days of competition, the band was delighted when they were announced as the winner of the Battle of the Bands category, competing again 19 other bands, as well as third in the classical category.
Marimba coach, Mark Pettitt, a former student at Dainfern College, was delighted with this result. “It is always interesting to enter new competitions as you have no idea what to expect. It was an amazing experience to meet and compete against bands from across the country as well as neighbouring countries.
“I am incredibly proud of the band’s commitment to excellence as they practised hard throughout the exam period and afterwards when all the other students were already enjoying their holiday break.”
Dainfern College has a strong marimba tradition and has achieved significant success at the National Eisteddfod over the years. It is a very popular extramural activity at the college, with five bands in the senior preparatory and two large bands in the high school.
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