By Siphiwe Mbonambi | Choirs Coordinator
How grateful we are to those farithful donors who keep supporting what we do...thank you!
At the heart of timber farming country in Kwazulu Natal, on 29 August 2024, the Greytown Siyacula Festival and Concert took place at Wembley College, marking the successful culmination of the Greytown Sakha Umphakathi Legacy Project. This year’s concert featured choirs from Indlovana Primary School, Tholinhlanhla Primary School, Cool Air Middle School, and Macongco Primary School, all of which had been rehearsing diligently for this event. Each choir performed two songs in the competitive component and later joined forces with the Wembley College Middle School Choir to sing an additional two songs as part of a mass choir.
Throughout the day, learners not only showcased their vocal talents but also had the opportunity to attend enriching workshops, including movement, marimba, and vocals. The energy and enthusiasm were palpable, and the event was a testament to the community’s dedication to both music and education. Macongco Primary emerged victorious in the Choral competition, with Cool Air taking a close second. Both Indlovana and Tholinhlanhla Primary Schools gave strong, memorable performances, making the competition tight and exciting for all attendees, discovering and exploring diversity through music.
The event also marked a significant transition in leadership. Earlier in 2024, Marco Coetsee stepped down as Choirs Coordinator for the Greytown Legacy Project, and we were delighted to welcome Siphiwe Mbonambi in his place. Siphiwe, with a background in acting and directing, and a recently completed Masters in Applied Theatre from Wits University, led the rehearsals alongside the dedicated choir masters and teachers, who played a vital role in preparing the choirs.
The Greytown community turned out in full support of the Siyacula Concert, and their presence contributed to the success of the day. The event was generously sponsored by local companies who provided food for learners and teachers, as well as refreshments for our esteemed guests. The concert demonstrated the power of music to bring people together, building stronger bonds between schools, parents, and the broader community. In the words of the incomparable Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel".
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Education, whose officials from Greytown-Umvoti, the Umzinyathi District, and the KwaZulu-Natal Province were present and offered their encouragement and support for the Legacy Project and the concert. Their involvement highlights the importance of this initiative in fostering educational growth and community engagement.
As we look forward to the 2025 Siyacula Concert, we aim to expand the project by including even more schools, especially from rural areas, ensuring that the spirit of unity and musical excellence continues to thrive.
For more on the concert’s coverage, please refer to the article here: Greytown Schools Come Together in Song.
This year’s concert was an incredible success, and we are deeply grateful to our sponsors, donors, and the community for their unwavering support. Together, we are building a brighter future for these children, one note at a time - "Sakha Umphakathi".
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
