Magazine 2020

175 2020 | Edition No. 23 | Little did we know that this, together with our Minor Hall informal concerts were going to be the last collaboration and festival with a live audience. However, this did not stop or discourage our depart- ment as we engaged with the virtual platform by showcasing a few teacher collaborations to motivate our learners. Our FET subject musicians performed in their first Virtual Concert for one of their subject performance assessment tasks. Some of them entered a new realm that included music technology, performance and recording space all guided and mentored by our inhouse sound engineer, Mr Damian Philander. A virtual collaboration we were particularly proud of was one by our music learners and their teach- ers together with the Grade 10 Visual Arts learners celebrating Nelson Mandela Day by performing an African Celebration Medley ar - ranged by our music teachers, Mr Philander and Mr Swanepoel. After the onset of lockdown the band was for- tunate enough to be able to record their annual EP recording.With physical distancing measures in place, the band recorded the tracks in the Parklands College Sound Studio under the direction of resident sound engineer, Mr Damian Philander. The musical focus of the Jazz Band in 2020 was SouthAfrican home- grown music. This culminated in the band releasing its own South African jazz compilation album, A Mandela Day Music Celebration 2020, which was released via all major online platforms.All proceeds from the album are donated to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Jazz Band consists of Libo Mavume, Sofia Suliman, Jordan Farqu - har,Tatum Coleman, Juaneque Human, Greg Bunn, Alessia Gironi, Ethan Morgan, Likhona Mbovane, Gianluca Gironi, Joel Gomes, Hayden Visser, Graedon Hawthorn and Mr Dean Flanagan as bandleader. The Show Must Go On has never rung truer in the Mu- sic Department with non-stop virtual performances, concerts, collaborations and completion of a few Trinity College London Virtual examinations. Our annual Pre - paratory and Secondary Faculty collaboration, The Ma- jor and Minors Concert was an event we were excited to attempt on the Virtual Stage. Our musicians took up the challenge and another enjoyable concert experience was had by all those who performed. We are incredibly proud of the resounding response to our ‘Festival of Excellence’ in the Culture Department where our depart- ments hosted a Virtual Eisteddfod, providing our learners with the op- portunity to showcase their hard work, talent and passion. Heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our Music staff for continuing to sow the love for Music in their learners, to our parents for their continued support and our musi- cians for creating the magic we love to enjoy!