Field Bands light up local streets with vibrant Victory Parades
Young musicians from Birchleigh, Springs, Soweto and Mandini celebrated their national championship wins with colourful community marches.
The streets of Springs, Birchleigh, Soweto and Mandini recently came alive as hundreds of young musicians and dancers from the Field Band Foundation (FBF) marched in celebration of their successes at the 2025 Field Band Foundation National Championships.
Following the much-anticipated championships, held in October at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, the Victory Parades gave winning Field Bands a chance to celebrate their achievements with the communities that have supported them every step of the way.
The Birchleigh parade was filled with music, movement and colour, transforming local streets into a festival of sound and joy.
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Residents lined the roads to cheer on their bands, while families, teachers and supporters proudly waved flags and sang along.
“The Victory Parades are about more than trophies, they are about celebrating perseverance, teamwork and the incredible young people who pour their hearts into every performance.
“These moments remind us that when communities stand behind their youth, extraordinary things happen,” said Field Band Foundation CEO Ushama Ross Jerrier.
The Birchleigh Field Band, winners of the Steering Committee Award, brought neighbourhoods together in a music-filled procession that showcased the pride and unity of their team.
The Soweto Field Band, winners of the Sports Squad Section, led a high-energy march through the streets of Doornkop, while the Londolusha Springs Field Band celebrated its successful defence of the 2025 National Championship title.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Mandini Field Band held its own parade through local streets to celebrate its win of the 2025 People’s Choice Award.
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For many of these young musicians, the parades marked not only victory but also personal growth, from learning an instrument for the first time to performing in front of thousands on a national stage.
Band coordinators said that seeing the pride in the eyes of parents, neighbours and community members makes all the hard work worthwhile.
“It’s a moment that says: You belong. Play on.”
The Field Band Foundation continues to reach thousands of young South Africans every year through its Music for All programme, using the performing arts to foster life skills, discipline and social inclusion.
