The Alexandra Field Band Foundation’s recent talent show may have been billed as a fundraiser for the upcoming national championships, but what unfolded on stage was something deeper: A living archive of what music can do when it is rooted in community.

Read more: Field band hosts youth talent show in Alexandra

Skeen Primary School came alive on September 6, as the band’s members, who have been training for the championships since the year began, started playing their instruments, showcasing skills they have honed over the months.

The audience was left cheering for more as the young members of the band took over the stage, ushering in an atmosphere of awe and pure celebration. One of the most notable moments came when band members invited parents from the audience to join them, handing over instruments and guiding them through a few minutes of joyful rhythm.

Although social officer Neo Rammopo said the event was about raising funds for uniforms, as well as a week-long training camp ahead of the October 11 showdown at Wanderers Stadium, she indicated that what was shown on stage had been in the making for months. “Almost every day, these children dedicate their lives, and their time, to come and learn the skill that enables them to produce something wonderful and beautiful. Just having the chance to showcase it, is a great feat.”

Also read: Alexandra Field Band’s fundraising show lights up Skeen Primary

The real crescendo came from former band member Phelelani Msimango, who joined the band in 2008. He returned, not just as a spectator, but as proof of the programme’s long-term impact. Speaking on the side-lines after a brief performance with his former band members, he recalled how the band paved the way for him. “I got a bursary through the field band, that’s when I went to study music.” Today, he’s a professional music educator, co-owner of a music school at Victoria Yards, and a member of the African Jazz Pioneers.

Programme manager Phumzile Twala sees this ripple effect as the band’s true legacy. “It is not just about the growing love of music; it is also about teaching. What inspires me the most is hearing the things that they are doing in their professional lives, and hearing them say: ‘Sis P, you gave us inspiration, and we are here because of you’.”

As the Alexandra Field Band Foundation prepares to shine at the national championships, they need your help to ensure every member gets the chance to participate fully and proudly. Your support can help them attend the week-long championship camp and receive a new uniform to look presentable on stage (Uniform cost: R300 per member).

To donate towards food or uniforms, please contact Twala on 083 500 9785, or at alexandra@fieldband.org.za.

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