Elsies River High School band is set to rock the stage at the 17th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
|||Cape Town - The Elsies River High School band was started as a community project – a conduit channelling creative energy from young people who are also faced with socio-economic challenges.
Now, eight years later, through sheer determination and raw talent, the 14-piece band is set to rock the stage at the 17th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival next weekend.
Founded by local musical heroes Camillo Lombard and Donveno Prins and funded by the Department of Arts and Culture, the little band with a big dream graced the stage at the St Joseph Marist College’s Jazz On the Lawn event.
Ben Sanderson, the band’s facilitator and a teacher at the school, said he was immensely proud of his team.
The 38-year-old creative arts teacher is committed to his role and takes it extremely seriously.
A jazz and music lover, Sanderson said the band was like a family to him.
“The way I felt when we found out we were selected to be part of the festival was that of a father being proud of his kids,” he said.
Boasting a repertoire filled with urban pop hits from artists such as Bruno Mars, Jimmy Nevis, Alicia Keys and Jessie J, the band is made up of lively pupils who are passionate about their music and enjoy the atmosphere that each rehearsal brings.
Lead vocalist for the band and the school’s head girl, Dehanre Kiewiets, 17, said that being in the band was like being among family and rehearsal was like going to a reunion every week.
“I feel like you have to be there to experience the family atmosphere we have. We make beautiful sounds together,” she said.
Another musician in the band, 15-year-old trombone player Lezaam Beets, said: “I want this to be my life. I love music, it is my passion and I see myself playing on big stages one day.”
The band will be performing on the stage of what is affectionately referred to as “Africa’s Grandest Gathering”. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is the largest music event in sub-Saharan Africa.
Preparing for its 17th year, the event is famous for delivering a star-studded line up of international and local artists in the jazz and jazz-related genres.
The proudly South African event will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre this weekend.
The festival boasts multiple stages, with over 40 artists performing over two nights, and will host more than 37 000 music lovers.
Affiliated to the festival is the CTIJF Sustainable Training & Development programme, which aims to uplift and educate the youth.
Cape Argus