POLOKWANE – “Music has always been in my heart and will forever be a part of my life,” says Maremo Seabela.
The 13-year-old learner from Capricorn High School joined the Limpopo Youth Orchestra (LYO) in 2007, where he plays the violin.
“I love music so much. When I was seven years old, I used to put water in glasses and made music.
“I remember in 2006 I went into town with my mother and saw a keyboard and begged her to buy it for me.
“I eventually convinced her that it was a good investment and she bought it for me.
“My mom saw how much passion I had for music and when she heard about the LYO, we signed up,” Seabela says.
His mother, Ruth, says she never saw her son so dedicated and passionate about anything like he is about music.
Asked where his love for music comes from, Maremo says he grew up in a family of musicians.
“My late grandfather, my grandmother, aunt, uncle and my sister are singers. So music is something that has always been close to home,” Maremo says.
He adds that the most exciting thing about music is getting a new piece to play.
“It is challenging to learn a new piece and even more overwhelming once you can play the piece perfectly.
“Whenever I play, I am so relaxed and in a world where I imagine myself on stage, formally dressed and playing in front of a big audience, with international and local big names in the entertainment and orchestra industry present,” Maremo said.
According to him, music lifts his spirit and is the best way to communicate with people.
“Your body language, your facial expression and every note you play sends out a message and each audience member interprets it in his or her own way.
“Music is life and a beautiful gift,” he says.
Maremo recently wrote his practical examination, which is a national examination that musicians from different provinces write and is scored by an international examination body from the Association Board of Royal Schools of music’s South Africa (ABRSM).
In Limpopo, Maremo scored the highest in his examination and has been invited by ABRSM to play a piece at the ABRSM high scores concert at the World of Yamaha Theatre in Sandton on August 8.
“It was really unexpected because I made a lot of mistakes during the examination. It was really a big surprise when I got the news, but I am very proud and excited because my hard work and daily practice paid off at the end of the day,” Maremo says.
He adds that he is very nervous to perform in front of a big crowd alone, but at the same time, he is very excited to meet new friends, as there will be high scoring musicians from other provinces that will also perform at the concert.
Asked what he wants to study after school, Maremo says: “I would like to become a geologist one day, because I never understood the earth. But even so, my music will always be a part of my life”.
