STEEL DRUM COMPETITION

Forming part of the 2012 National Creative Arts Youth Festival currently running at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre was today’s annual Steel Drum Foundation competition. Featuring schools from around KZN, the event is always filled with high energy and a continually improving standard of steel drum music.

Run by the indefatigable Bryan Clarke who has been involved in the organisation since its inception, this year’s judges included Retha Cilliers, CEO of the Field Band Foundation, and long-serving judge Caroline Smart.

In the Primary School section, the Drum for Joy Trophy went to St Nicholas in first position with St Patricks winning the Troubadour Productions Trophy in second place and Kokstad Junior Grade 6 in third place.

Steel Drum Foundation Trophies were won by Warner Beach Preparatory for the Most Outstanding Single Performance by a Band for their presentation of I Got a Feeling and Brown School Grade 4 won the Most Improved Junior School Band.

In the High School section, Inanda Seminary won the Elizabeth Sneddon Trophy for first place with Hillcrest winning the Troubadour Trophy for second place. The Dobri Paliev Trophy for Best High School Individual Piece was won by St Nicholas for Take a Chance.

Hilda Makhanya won the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra Spirit Trophy. The artSMart Rising Star Trophy for an outstanding performance by an individual band member was won by Vukani Ninela from Warner Beach Preparatory.