2021 Magazine

174 | Edition No. 24 | 2021 is a phrase that almost every musician in the Music Department has heard at least once this year. Our music educators together with the expertise of our inhouse sound engineering department have guided these digital showcases of talent. We have been able to continue live- streaming our lunchtime and evening con- certs with great success ensuring that our performers are exposed to the magic and wonders of performing to an audience. We commenced this year with a collaborative Music Video project that featured our Drama, Dance and Music Departments together with our Flash Mob and Sound Engi- neering Clubs. We launched this initiative in celebration of Human Rights Day and shared a message of being “Kind” to ourselves, to each other and to the world with our Park- lands Family. The video has been well received on our so- cial media platforms and received praise from the original creators, Mango Groove. This year 60% of our enrolled music learn- ers participated in the Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod. 20% of these performers re- ceived a Cum Laude award (>=96%) and 35% received a Gold Award (88-95%). Our second annual Parklands College Virtual Eisteddfod heeded equally as successful results. 40% of our performers received a Cum Laude award (>=86%) and 36% received an Honours Award (82%- 85%). We are really proud of all of these participants and look forward to their continued musical success. “Recording in 3,2,1... ” One Voice Choir, our Parklands Band, Orchestra and Marimba Bands have continued to rehearse throughout the year. Our learners have impressed us with their understanding of being part of a team and working towards a common goal. Our ensembles have rehearsed in their separate groups on a weekly basis but have also collabo- rated and enjoyed combined rehearsals sharing the stage with their music mentors for various projects this year. These musicians have continued to work hard as individuals but have also exhibited a deeper understanding and appreciation for working as an effective team and the responsibility each individual has within the unit. We have said farewell to Mr Dean Flanagan after 9 years at Parklands College and leaving the legacy of the Parklands Jazz Band and have welcomed an extraordinarily talented and dynamic educator and musician to our team, Mrs Tracey Johannes. Mrs Johannes has in just a few months gotten our band performance ready and helped to elevate the energy during a rather uncertain time. We also extend our gratitude and appreciation to Mr Damian Philander, who embarks on a new journey after two years at Parklands College. His patience and sound engineering expertise have helped us to deliver performances of exceptional quality. Mr Phi- lander has facilitated and made our virtual concerts, exams, recordings and post production experiences fun and has helped to ease our performance nerves. We wish him well in his new endeavours and look forward to welcoming Mr Craig De Sousa. Together with the 15 music educators, all industry specialists, we are thankful for our learners’ com - mitment to their music-making. Musicians are ex- traordinary treasures that have the ability to unite communities and create positive and magical expe- riences in life. Alexis Matsimela