Orban School recently participated in their 11th National Eisteddfod competition.
As part of the school’s culture, learners from an early age were encouraged to partake in art, language, theatre and performing arts, dance and junior writers.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers and teachers had to find creative ways for learners to submit performances. These were live-streamed and enabled parents and family to watch from the comfort of their home and workplace. Art department teachers, Zanele Montle, Stephen Hawkins, Ana Silent, Karli Ferreira and Michele Zulch dedicated countless hours to prepare learners and ensured the school submit a record amount to the National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA) adjudicators.
The art results were announced and 65 of the 73 learners who entered NEA, received a mark higher than 90 per cent. The school achieved eight golds, 38 diplomas and 27 junior diplomas.
For performance art, reading, theatre and dance, the school received gold and diploma awards. As a unique to 2020 Eisteddfod requirement, the experimental group work division was not allowed to use traditional music instruments due to sanitation issues. But, true to Orban’s creative thinking, everyday objects, like pencils and buckets, were used and incorporated in their performances, which impressed the adjudicators.
Dr Francois van den Berg, chief executive officer of the National Eisteddfod Association, thanked the school for their ongoing support, “Not allowing the Covid-19 pandemic to curb their enthusiasm for arts and creativity.”
