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Friday, October 6, 2017

FIELD BAND CELEBRATION



Tomorrow (October 7), the sounds of brass, percussion, marimbas and steel drums, with accompanying flash of flags and colourful costume, will reverberate through Johannesburg’s Alexandra when the Field Band Foundation (FBF) holds its 20th-Year National Field Band Celebration at the Alexandra Stadium.

South Africa’s 11 top performance Field Bands, each with 120 members, will put on long-rehearsed displays of closely choreographed music, dance and band movement before FBF, and the public.

The event is opened at 09h30 by Johannesburg’s executive mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba, Department of Arts & Culture Deputy Director-General (Institutional Governance), Ms Kelebogile Sethibelo, and FBF CEO Nicky du Plessis.

artSMart editor, Caroline Smart, is the judge for the marimbas and steel drum sections.

Bands competing for national honours qualified through the judging of filmed performance entries from Field Bands from 21 townships across seven provinces. Competing on October 7 are the Field Bands of Alexandra, Blouberg, Dordrecht, Kroonstad, Kuruman, Musina, Parys, Philipstown, Setlabotjha, Soweto, and Viljoenskroon.

The Field Band Foundation NPC (www.fieldband.org.za) was founded in 1997 to use the global performance band concept in bringing focussed life-skills training to young people in areas of disadvantage. Since then, more than 50,000 youngsters have gone through the programme. 

The Foundation currently has 42 bands across SA, and receives significant corporate support. State support comes through the national Department of Arts & Culture, and international support primarily through partners in Norway and the US.

“The 2017 FBF National Field Band Celebration promises a morning of superb family entertainment with live instrumental music that will stir your soul,” says du Plessis.

The event takes place on October 7 from 09h00 to 14h00, at the Alexandra Stadium, 12th Avenue, Alexandra, Johannesburg.