Soothing sounds fill Makhanda air in night of music at Kingswood
Pupils from Victoria Girls’ High School, invited to take part in a concert with Kingswood College, treated the audience to an hour-long evening of music recently.
Grade 12 VG pupil, Sinokholo Ngwekwazi, described the evening as peaceful, intimate and lighthearted.
Sinokholo, who has been playing the violin for seven years, said she could not envision her life without music.
She said music provided an escape and a way to express one’s feelings.
“I cannot imagine my life without it [music].
“Music happens to be my escape from reality, my way of expressing emotions that I cannot comprehend and explain.”
She said music captured the beauty of life.
“Music means so much and words cannot explain the feeling and essence of it.”
Sinovuyo Manyakanyaka, a Grade 12 pupil and a new member of VG’s marimba band, said one of the most rewarding aspects of music for her was its capacity to bring people together.
She said the concert had helped broaden the musical knowledge of audience members from Makhanda.
“I’ve learnt that as a performer and a musician, one needs to carry yourself and have fire and passion.”
Award-winning jazz singer Nomfundo Xaluva, a former VG pupil who was the school’s first black headgirl, was her role model.
“She is now big in the music industry. Sis Nomfundo did not hesitate, she decided to pursue her career and is now wellknown.
“I look up to her because we have something in common, the way she carries herself inspires me to continue with my craft.”
Sinovuyo said she hoped to study music at university and pursue it as a career.
Nicola Coleman, head of music at Kingswood College and the mastermind behind the concert, said the school invited different schools to share the musical experience every year, and this year it was VG.
She said the aim was to bring pupils and the community of Makhanda together through music.