Cape Town - The V&A Waterfront’s annual High School Band Slam ended on a high note with Bergvliet High School coming out tops and Belhar Secondary taking the second position.
Third and fourth place was taken by Pinelands High School and Parel Vallei.
Bergvliet walked off with a cash prize of R25 000 including R25 000 worth of music Equipment from Bothners.
Usaamah Adams of the V&A Waterfront’s Coordinator for Events and Entertainment shared that Belhar received R1 500 in cash, Pinelands, R10 000 and Parel Vallei, R10 000.
The event was held between March 7 and March 15 2024 at the Amphitheatre.
Via their Facebook page, Bergvliet High School shared their elation:
Teachers willing to teach, learners eager to learn. Hours and hours of rehearsals and fine tuning = phenomenal success tonight. What a fabulous 67th birthday present.”
Belhar High School principal, Eunice Meter said it was a great achievement considering the social- economic background learners faced daily.
“In the heart of Belhar, where resilience meets talent, the Belhar High School Band has once again demonstrated the indomitable spirit of its learners,” she said.
“Despite facing considerable hurdles due to limited resources and backgrounds marked by disadvantage, our band has soared to remarkable heights, securing a commendable second place out of 13 schools in the prestigious Band Slam competition.
“I am immensely honoured to witness the unwavering dedication and passion exhibited by our learners.
“Their achievement not only reflects their musical prowess but also stands as a testament to their perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
“A special tribute must be paid to Ms. Fortuin, our esteemed music teacher, whose unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have nurtured the raw talent within our learners, shaping them into the exceptional musicians they are today.?”’
Music teacher, Kelly Fortuin said it was well deserved.
“We have 15 learners in the band, ranging from Grade 9 to Grade 12, and when I began teaching in 2022, we had a lot to figure out and we only had started the auditions towards the end of 2023 and we had proper auditions at the end of the year.
“We learnt so much from last year’s competition and this year is a great achievement as we all worked hard.”