THE Griffin Girls marimba band from Westville Girls’ High School amazed an audience from across South Africa with a performance that was world-class in musicality, energy and stage presence.
The SAMBA Competition held in Pretoria was tough as the girls competed against professional level orchestras and ensembles, and well-renowned marching bands, but in the end, the long hours of practice and dedication paid off and musical arrangement by their coach, Calvin Human, saw the first-time-entrant band leaving Pretoria with two category victories: Best Open Marimba Group and Overall Best Group of the Day (across all categories).
The South African Concert and Marching Band Association (SAMBA) is a non-profit association that has for decades created a competitive platform for musical groups of all genres and ages to perform and showcase their musical talents for the honour of being called the best in the country and to qualify for National Colours.
The annual event attracts some of the highest calibre of musicians as both performers and adjudicators.
This year, the competition was privileged to have internationally known Gerben Grooten from the Netherlands as an adjudicator along with Gerald Seekola, Matthys Pienaar and Terrence Cole.
These are adjudicators that understand music not only theoretically, but practically as well at the highest level.
The Westville Griffin Girls consist of 11 high school learners between the ages of 14 and 17.
They practice once a week with their coach, Calvin Human (Berklee).
He is highly sought-after among schools for the superb results and standard of his musical arrangements.
The Griffin Girls thanked their sponsors, the amazing adjudicators, competition organisers and most importantly their principal, Catherine Raw, for all that they have done to promote music in the country.
