Marimba sounds at Ithute Primary School

OWN CORRESPONDENT

Pictured: Rabbi Yehuda Stern of Sydenham Shul joins the learners of Stoneridge Primary School, as they play on their new marimbas.

 PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED

 It included performances by international musicians on the marimba and steelpan, and also featured learners from King David Linksfield and Stoneridge Primary Schools on the marimbas. The purpose of this event was to raise money to purchase marimbas which would be donated to disadvantaged schools. The event was sponsored by corporate and individual sponsors from around the country.

Thanks to this event, a set of three marimbas were donated by Sydenham Shul and Education Africa to Stoneridge Primary School in Eden Park, which serves the Thokoza community and another set to Ithute Primary School in Alexandra, Sydenham Shul said in a media release.

A “Marimba Hub” was also established at Ithute, where learners from four other schools as well as Ithute, attend marimba classes throughout the week.

The learners and their teachers are being taught by music maestro Joan Lithgow of Education Africa, who was also the musical director of the concert last August. Excitement around the event last year and children learning to play the marimba, also led to the purchase of a set of marimbas for King David Linksfield Primary School, which was made possible by two generous families in the community, as well as a new marimba class, co-ordinated by Deputy Head Darryl Frankel and taught by Joan Lithgow.

The official opening of the “Marimba Hub” at Ithute Primary took place on Wednesday, June 11 with 125 learners from all five schools of the hub participating in the opening, together with grade 7 learners from King David Linksfield led by Darryl Frankel.

Rabbi Yehuda Stern of Sydenham Shul attended the event together with members of the Shul’s committee, directors of Education Africa and the District Education Department.

“Based on the success of last year’s concert, we are now launching Sounds of Celebration II which will continue to raise funds in order to purchase more marimbas for other disadvantaged schools and this project will culminate with another very unique musical event in March 2015 at Emperors Palace,” Rabbi Stern announced.

Sydenham Shul and Education Africa are seeking corporate and individual sponsors for this year’s project. If you would like to be a partner in this exciting initiative, please contact Sydenham Shul at (011) 640-5021.