October 1, 2004
By Anish Abraham
SQUADS of field bands from around South Africa will gather at the Charles Skeen athletics stadium at Wits University on Saturday, 3 October to take part in the 2004 Field Band Foundation's national championships.
This is the seventh year the championships will be held and organisers are expecting more than 2 500 youngsters to take part. Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan, is expected to attend as the guest of honour.
With the brass instruments a-bugling and marchers a-strutting, the troops are set to dazzle with their precision displays, as last year's champions, the De Beers Superstones, defend their title. Jazz musician Brian Thusi will also add to the entertainment.
The premier division bands will start competing at 9.30am and the prize-giving ceremony will be held at 12.30pm. Entrance to the championships is free.
According to the CEO of the Field Band Foundation, Retha Celliers, the foundation currently consists of 18 field bands, sharing nine sets of instruments.
The organisation, which has members in five provinces, operates in 236 schools in 72 townships - with some 2 400 marchers and musicians. "The current goal is to increase its youth members to 10 000 from all nine provinces," added Celliers.
The idea of a field band is based on a marching band, with drums and brass instruments.
The Field Band Foundation was set up to encourage South African youngsters to learn a musical instrument and acquire life skills, and in this way to stay off the streets. According to the foundation's website it aims to "improve the quality of life of disadvantaged young people and their communities through music and movement".
"Motivational coaching, structured rehearsals and regular public performance ensure that members acquire creative skills, develop self-discipline and build team spirit," the site states.
The foundation, guided by the principle "Sharing Music - Saving Lives", believes such programmes bring about a new sense of self-worth that inspires members to play a positive role.
The Field Band Foundation is a non-profit organisation that offers life skills training to school children, through various programmes including HIV/Aids peer counselling.
The foundation works closely with the national department of education and the South African Music Education Trust and uses sponsored musical equipment.
For more information, contact the Field Band Foundation on 011 486 1126.
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