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Alexanne Tingley

Social Innovator in Arts and Culture Award

We are thrilled to share with you that at an award ceremony at the Artscape Theatre Centre on Sunday 10 November 2019, MusicWorks and our Music for Life programme was announced the winner in the category: Social Innovator in Culture and Arts. The award formed part of the Community Chest Social Innovations Awards. Out of 200 entries from across South Africa, only 14 organisations were selected as winners in their various categories.  For MusicWorks, an honour and an endorsement such as this is immeasurable. The Music for Life project is targeted at communities on the Cape Flats where high levels of violence, gangsterism and poverty negatively impact the well-being of children growing up here. For these children, the risk of early school drop-out and becoming involved in destructive activities such as gangs and substance abuse from a young age is extremely high. The Music For Life project unlocks the potential in children so that they become resilient, creative beings; able to dream; and capable of positively contributing to society. And we do this through music – a resource that is still thriving in our communities, in spite of, the challenges and adversities they face. We are very proud of the whole MusicWorks team and especially the… Read More »Social Innovator in Arts and Culture Award

Look what MusicWorks has been up to during 2018!

MusicWorks has had a busy year during 2018…not only with our onsite work but also with concerts, campaigns and workshops!  These activities provided our young people with the opportunity to perform, to be witnessed and show off their talents!  We were also the happy beneficiaries of a campaign run by Fine Music Radio and Voices from the Heart choir in America. We hope that you enjoy these snippets of 2018 and take this opportunity to wish you a happy holiday period! ZONNEBLOEM FESTIVAL, MAY 2018 The Inaugural Zonnebloem Festival, which celebrated 160 years of the Zonnebloem College Estate that houses the Zonnebloem Boys and Girls Schools was held in May this year. Young people who are part of the MusicWorks’ Music for Life programme at the schools opened the festival in front of residents, learners, members of the communities and alumni.  It was a fantastic opportunity for our beneficiaries to showcase their newly acquired marimba skills and the entire event highlighted the long history of Zonnebloem community and we were so honoured to be part of it! SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL, ARTSCAPE THEATRE CENTRE. JULY 2018 MusicWorks’ Heideveld and Lavender Hill schools were invited to take part at the Schools Music Festival at the Artscape Theatre Centre during… Read More »Look what MusicWorks has been up to during 2018!

What dreams are made of

Help us to get our super talented marimba bands onto the prestigious Artscape stage! They deserve to share a stage with Cape Town’s most talented young musicians.   The Schools Festival is being hosted in August 2018. A panel of adjudicators will select the top routines to perform at a gala event on 30 August which will present a wonderful opportunity for schools to showcase the top talent in their school. MusicWorks wants to send four marimba groups to perform but it is impossible to do so without your help.  The cost for 17 children to present is R3 400 which includes transport to and from the theatre and a meal. We are requesting a donation of R200 per child.  Please click here to make a contribution.   

What it is like growing up in Lavender Hill

It’s not easy growing up in Lavender Hill. Young people in this community are exposed to violence and crime on a daily basis and often don’t have positive role models or a healthy way to express their feelings. Our Music for Life team has been offering marimba and gumboots dance sessions in Lavender Hill for the last three and a half years to help these young people cope with their difficult circumstances. We spoke to some of the teachers, parents, community members and Music for Life participants to find out how the programme is helping the youth in Lavender Hill. A headmaster at a local school told us that the youth of Lavender Hill have “abnormal childhoods” and are “prisoners in their own homes”. They can’t play outside because of the danger of gang violence. They feel frustrated and angry, but don’t have a healthy way of expressing this, so they end up ‘acting out’ at school through bullying and distracting or withdrawn behaviour in class. They see school as a place to play and be children, and the teachers struggle to keep them focused and work. The Music for Life team helps the young people grow in positive ways, by giving them a space… Read More »What it is like growing up in Lavender Hill