The St Benedict’s College Prep Auditorium recently played host to a celebration of young artistic talent as learners, families and staff gathered for the St Benedict’s Annual Art Competition Awards.

According to the school’s head of marketing, communications and admissions, Mpumi Motsabi, the competition drew a wide array of entries from across the region, fostering friendly rivalry and artistic exchange.

Learners from Assumption Convent, CBC, Dainfern, Saheti, St Andrews, St Martins, St Stithians Girls, Steyn City, Woodlands and Veritas participated alongside the host school, St Benedict’s.

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To adjudicate the diverse range of submissions, Motsabi said the event welcomed a distinguished panel of industry experts and academic leaders.

The panel included Johann Smith and Stian van Wyk (lecturers at Open Window), acclaimed photographer Candice Dingwall, Telri Stoop from Paper Snap graphic design and illustration studio, and Atang Mmatladia, senior visual arts teacher at St Benedict’s College.

According to the organisers, the judges were unanimous in their admiration of the work on display. They noted that the skill and conceptual strength demonstrated by the young artists was ‘truly extraordinary’, making the selection of top achievers a task requiring much deliberation.

The awards evening was hosted by MC Luke Gounden, a Grade Seven learner at St Benedict’s. The proceedings were enriched by musical interludes from talented learners, including Benjamin Vorster, who performed Golden on the violin, and Harrison Keet, who captivated the audience with a rendition of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

The event stood as a heartwarming celebration of creativity and dedication. Organisers extended their congratulations to all participants and noted their anticipation for an even more inspiring competition next year.

The award recipients were as follows:
Photography:
Grade 7
1 Gia Govender St Stithians Girls Prep
2 Kimberleigh Knipe Assumption Convent
3 Gabriella Fraser St Stithians Girls Prep

Grade 6
1 Gianluca Correia St Benedict’s
2 Reyhaan Ribnick Steyn City

Grade 5
1 Harrison Keet

Grade 4
1 Didintle Modiba Steyn City
2 Destiny Govender Steyn City
3 Ndzalo Mambane Steyn City

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Art
Grade 7
1 Jacklyn Musakwa Assumption Convent School
2 Nivan Reddy Saheti
2 Caylyn Hadley St Andrews
4 Makayla Sinclair Saheti
5 Warona Ntsepe Veritas
6 Isabella Pires Assumption Convent School
7 Luke Gounden St Benedict’s
8 Katie Allen Dainfern
9 Karabo Maruping St Martin
10 Kimberley Knipe Assumption Convent School

Grade 6
1 Chu Chu Luo St Andrews
2 Rui Zhang St Benedict’s
3 Oarabile Khutsoane Steyn City
4 Matteo Mijatovic Veritas
5 Liam Hanika Steyn City
6 Louis Roue’ Dainfern
7 Sierra Calderon Assumption Convent
8 Jennifer Greyling Steyn City
9 Kidus Ourgia Veritas
10 Bandile Vika St Benedict’s

Grade 5
1 Sebastian Fischer Steyn City
2 Harrison Keet St Benedicts
3 Nkanyezi Tshbalala Steyn City
4 Sahasra Moonsamy Steyn City
5 Cate Swanepoel Steyn City
6 Shivar Heeralall St Benedicts
7 Sadie-Grace Venter Steyn City
8 Aneshan Daimon Veritas
9 Tefo Thobejane St Benedicts
10 Rafaella Harito Saheti

Grade 4
1 Beimi Jin (4O) Saheti
2 Lulonke Mthiyane Steyn City
3 Tshiamo Mashigo Dainfern
4 Evie Carron Steyn City
5 Carrera Mccall Steyn City
6 Rafael Chadinha CBC Boksburg
7 Leo Brackenridge Steyn City
8 James Barter Steyn City
9 Xin Liu Dainfern
10 Destiny Govender Steyn City