Guests and pupils at the opening of the completely refurbished Victoria Girls' Music School were treated to an array of high quality musical performances on Wednesday 23 October.
Guests and pupils at the opening of the completely refurbished Victoria Girls' Music School were treated to an array of high quality musical performances on Wednesday 23 October.
Former Victoria Girls' High School (VGHS) principal Madeleine Schoeman formally opened the proceedings when she ceremonially cut the ribbon at the entrance to the newly fitted out building. Guests were then taken on a guided tour.
Choirs and bands from various Grahamstown schools entertained a large crowd gathered on the lawn behind the new music centre.
Visiting Karlsruhe Chamber Choir opened the concert with a brief repertoire of choral songs in four languages, eliciting loud cheers and whistles from the enthusiastic audience when they danced rhythmically while singing African songs.
The German choir directed by Stephan Aufenanger consists of 40 high school singers from the Helmholtz-Gymnasium in Karlsruhe.
Other choirs at the music evening included ones from Graeme, Victoria Primary and VGHS – this last under the dynamic direction of Sibu Mkhize.
There were also a number of scintillating performances from musical groups including the combined VG orchestra, Graeme and VG marimba bands and a rather special cameo with the Access Music Project (AMP) featuring pupils from Khutliso Daniels, Nombulelo and Ntsika secondary schools in Grahamstown.
The aspiring young AMP musicians under the direction of music teacher Gareth Walwyn lifted the mood of the concert with a catchy Spanish Caribbean song.
However, many in the audience believed the highlight was VG matric pupil Viwolwethu Kulati's amazing solo rendition of I dreamed a dream. Her powerful, crystal-clear voice raised goose-bumps all around while her professional microphone technique and incredibly mature stage presence should guarantee her a promising career as a singer.
Everyone one loved her all too brief time on stage.
