Southern Suburb schools stage production at Cape Town City Hall
18 July 2019
In 2018, Rustenburg Girls’ High School embarked on a new and exciting journey called: “A school where we all belong”. This platform served to facilitate interactions between learners and educators, and to break down biases like race, culture, religion or language.
The Music Department decided to stage a production that would celebrate this new-found inclusivity, in conjunction with Rondebosch Boys’ High School and South African College School (SACS).
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a work by the Welsh composer, Sir Karl Jenkins, for choirs, orchestras and soloists. It is accompanied by video footage and was written with the hope that over time performances would encourage young people to think about “the vital issues of war and peace”. With over 350 young people involved in this project on the one hand, and the natural inclusivity of the work on the other hand, the work seemed an appropriate choice.
Combined rehearsals have taken place in the evenings since February at Rustenburg Girls’ High School. The music staff of the three schools have all been involved and have worked collaboratively with each other and learners from the other schools to make this experience a truly enriching one.
Renowned composer Alexander Fokkens conducts the Rustenburg Girls’ High School, Rondebosch Boys’ High School and South African College High School choirs and the orchestra in this exhilarating work. The soloists are Brittany Smith (Soprano), Vasti Knoesen (Mezzo-Soprano), Makudupanyane Senaoana (Tenor) and Barend van der Westhuizen (Baritone).
Other works featured include Arlington by Paul Murtha, Mountain Thyme by Samuel R. Hazo and The Commemoration Overture by Robert Sheldon, which will be performed by a combined concert band comprising of the three schools. The programme also includes the first movement of the Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor by Frederic Chopin, with Jiyoon Jeon of Rustenburg Girls’ High School as the soloist.
Performances start on 23 and 24 July at the Cape Town City Hall at 19:30. Tickets are R150 and can be booked via Quicket (https://qkt.io/ArmedMan).
