On Wednesday 26 June, Ms Rungan, Mr Baker and I, along with seven other music students left Durban at 5am to go to the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Mkhanda (formerly known as Grahamstown), in the Eastern Cape.
Upon arrival, 11 hours later, we immediately registered and auditioned for the Standard Bank National School Big Band.
The following day was the official commencement of the Festival and the day started at 8am with breakfast.
The average day at the Festival started at 8am and thereafter we were put into bands and had band practice at 9am every morning. Prominent musicians from all over South Africa and the world conducted workshops throughout the rest of the day.
The Festival was a collaboration of South African musicians, as well as some of the world’s finest jazz musician coming from places like Italy, China and the USA.
These musicians performed concerts throughout the day with the earliest concert beginning at 12pm and the latest at 11pm, and ending at about 2am.
The concerts truly varied from Afro Jazz, to Contemporary Jazz to onesie themed concerts at midnight.
The entire Festival was truly an experience of a lifetime. Wherever we went on campus we could hear someone playing or listening to jazz. There was so much to see, learn and absorb from the amazing people who were so willing to share their knowledge.
The eight of us that went to the Festival are truly grateful to everyone that made it possible. Thank you!
Quincy Hitler
Grade 11
