The Marimba Education Foundation will mark the 40th anniversary of the Soweto uprising by staging the National Marimba Festival on 16 June at Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg.
With funding from the National Lotteries Commission, the foundation is partnering with Sacred Heart College, a school with a long and significant tradition of liberal education and activism.
The school is celebrated for offering support and scholarships to the children of returning exiles, as well as for its philosophy of education for the common good and service of others rather than the service of self.
“The festival caters for all ages, from primary to high school, from amateur to professional, from pure instrumentals to marimbas combined with vocals and dancing,” said Hilde Gordon, director of the Marimba Education Foundation.
“Past festivals have seen close to 1 000 enthusiastic players from more than 30 institutions from across the country making the journey to the festival. We are currently taking applications for this year’s festival which promises to set a new benchmark.”
The National Marimba Festival provides an expressive platform for all exponents of this increasingly popular instrument. Although the festival takes the form of a competition, the greater outcome of the festival lies in the cross-pollination of ideas, styles and repertoire that inspires players and educators to reach higher levels of creative excellence in marimba playing.
“The camaraderie of marimba players as they come together to celebrate and delight in their performances is heartwarming on every level,” continued Gordon.
“It seems fitting and humbling to be able to honour the sacrifices of the past by celebrating the extraordinary promise of our youth of today.”
A heightened sense of celebration, community and collaboration underscores the National Marimba Festival. The warm sound of the mallets on the reverberating keys has become a familiar soundtrack for so many occasions in South Africa.
Details: www.mef.org.za
