For the young love of music

Auckland Park Preparatory School Grade 0 learner Rorisang Kutumela was recently award the Lee Marais trophy at the Johannesburg Festival for Advancement of Music (JFAM).

Rorisang was selected as the best six-year-old and under violin player among her class. With the most adorable and infectious of smiles while oozing confidence and her violin by her side, she told Northcliff Melville Times what she enjoyed about her instrument.

She said, “I like the violin because I get to learn new songs and I like learning and playing new songs every day. I also like practising.”

The Johannesburg Festival for the Advancement of Music was established by the Johannesburg branch of the South African Society of Music Teachers. It is an annual music festival held at Wits University where beginner, intermediate and advanced students are recognised for their abilities, skills and commitment to mastering the piano, strings, woodwind, brass, harp, piano accordion, recorders, and vocals.

The main aim of the event is to give these students a platform where they can play their instrument in front of an audience and a specialist adjudicator. They get feedback in the form of a report and certificate, and a further overview discussion by the adjudicator at the end of each session.

Rorisang attributed her mother as her biggest support and fan and said her mom helped her with everything, from practising songs to getting to practice. “I very happy every time she is around to help me with my violin and music.”

Auckland Park Preparatory School is confident that Rorisang is surrounded by all the right people to help her climb up the violin ranks while fine-tuning her abilities on the strings.