#MADIBA celebrated at the Education AFRICA 2nd International
Marimba & Steelpan Festival
The 2013 Marimba and Steelpan Festival now in its second year promises to continue celebrate the legacy of Madiba in a mass gathering to honour the father of our nation when hundreds of Marimba and Steelpan enthusiasts gather en mass for the annual international festival.
Following on from the successful inaugural International Marimba and Steelpan Festival in 2012 where over 1200 participants from all corners of Southern Africa as well as Germany and Seattle in the USA took part, the Education Africa 2nd International Marimba and Steelpan Festival is set to take South Africa by storm on the 3rd and 4th August 2013 at St. Benedict’s College in Bedfordview.
EDUCATION AFRICA in partnership with St. Benedict’s College in Bedfordview, the host of this prestigious event, is proud to announce the Patrons of this Festival: The High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: H.E. Mr. Harry Partap and Andy Narell. The steelpan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and together with the marimba is a popular instrument amongst our youth in South Africa. Andy Narell, arguably one of the greatest solo steelpannist in the world, is not only one of our patrons but also one of our erudite adjudicators together with Alex Jacobowitz, classical marimba player extraordinaire and Pops Mohamed a living legend of South African music: – his impact is felt in various spheres of the country's output, from the traditional, through contemporary music, to the experimental.
“We are expecting over 1400 marimba and steelpan players from all nine provinces as well as Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. This is fast becoming the Gauteng musical event of the year! Having Pops Mohamed
This Festival is for absolutely everyone. Children from as young as 8 to adults in their prime compete in the competitions. Lovers of music will be entertained at the various marimba and steelpan competitions being held throughout the two fun-filled days. Small national photographic and art competitions in ALL age categories are also features of this family-orientated Festival as well as composers composition competitions.
Come and experience a truly International Music Festival with something for all ages. Besides the competitions at the Festival you will be entertained by a number of our national musical treasures as well as a number of international stars.
There will also be on offer a variety of workshops from djembe drumming, percussion and drumming workshops, steelpan and marimba workshops, Orff workshops, African dance workshops, lecture demonstrations as well as a number of short concerts.
All workshops and performances are open to the public, and included in the ticket price. There will be something for the entire family. There will also be a flea market and many food stalls. So you can shop till you drop while you are being entertained!
This international event, is a Proudly South African. This Festival attracts young and old, and includes physically and mentally challenged performers from not only the privileged communities of our country and abroad but also from rural areas and township schools.
For a mere R100 (pre-booked) or R120 (bought at the gate) Festival Pass you can come and be entertained for 2 days at the event. All entertainment, once you enter the gates is included in the Festival Pass.
· Watch marimba and steel bands perform
· Learn to play the marimba or steelpan
· Learn to dance a number of African traditional dances
· Attend concerts by the cream of South Africa’s crop.
· World premiere of Christo Jankowitz piece: Carnival Faces to be performed by Magda De Vries at the Festival
· Orff workshops geared for teachers, parents and children
· Djembe drumming workshops for all ages and all levels
· Lecture demonstrations on African Instruments
· Lecture demonstrations on the pre-school arts and culture programme: Adventures of Little Brown Monkey using the marimba as the instrument of tuition
For pre-booked tickets click on http://www.internationalmarimbafestival.org/register-spectator.asp and register as a spectator and take advantage of the pre-booked price of R100 for the Festival pass.
Alternatively buy your ticket at the gate for R120 for a week-end Festival pass or R70 per day.
The mass Marimba and Steelpan gathering takes place on 4 August at 12h30. Participants will be learning in 40 minutes a short tribute composition to Nelson Mandela written by Joan Lithgow
BREAKING NEWS
On Tuesday the 28th June EDUCATION AFRICA took the Aqua Vista marimba band from Aqua Vista School in East London to perform at various venues in New York. The Aqua Vista Marimba band won this trip at last year’s International Marimba and Steelpan Festival. In New York they played alongside the legendary diva, Roberta Flack! None of the children had ever travelled in an aeroplane let alone gone outside South Africa! This band has made a name for itself at various Festivals and eisteddfods in South Africa and is truly deserving of this amazing recognition of talent and dedication.
For more information please contact:
Joan Lithgow : 082 266 4229 (office hours only) or joan@educationafrica.org
Bongi: 011 685 7300 (office hours) or bongi@educationafrica.org
Website: www.internationalmarimbafestival.org
DATES: 3 and 4 AUGUST 2013
TIMES: SATURDAY: 9am – 8pm
SUNDAY: 8am – 5pm
VENUE: ST. BENEDICT’S COLLEGE: HARCUS ROAD BEDFORDVIEW
COSTS: R100 (PRE-BOOKED) FOR FESTIVAL PASS
R120 BOOKED AT GATE FOR FESTIVAL PASS
R70 FOR 1 DAY PASS
For media interviews, access to high-res pictures and any media enquiries, please contact media@jtcomms.co.za or call (011) 788 7632.
Issued by JT Communication Solutions of Behalf of Education Africa - www.internationalmarimbafestival.org
