Athlone High School seeks to develop music department
ATHLONE High School has appealed for assistance from the public as it seeks to expand the offering of its music department.
Since its establishment in 1947, the school has been a lodestar in the Athlone community. Now it seeks funding to not only expand the offering of its music department but to make music an official subject offered to school’s learners to stimulate their cultural and academic development.
Athlone High principal Vincent Hendricks said it was unfortunate that his school was not an arts-focused.
“There’s great value in giving our learners music education and it’s a shame they aren’t afforded that opportunity due to the music department being underfunded and under-resourced.
“The difference music can make in a child’s life is enormous. It encourages children to stay off the streets and positively affects cognitive thinking, languages, maths and so many other areas of life,” said Hendricks.
He said children were in need of extracurricular activities to nurture other cultural interests they may have.
The school’s creative arts teacher, Ashleigh September, is spearheading the drive to promote music at the school and says there are a variety of opportunities for learners to pursue music after high school, but for them to be eligible, they need to have a decent music education in high school that prepares them.
September said: “These kids are gifted and they deserve the same opportunities as kids who grew up in more privileges areas.”
She is submitting a proposal regarding a pre-university music syllabus on improving the quality of music education in South Africa, to the National Arts Council.
“They have the talent, they just need the resources,” said September.
Anyone interested in donating towards the development of the school music department, can contact September at 081 451 1355.