Gauteng field bands gear up for an epic contest
ILLOVO - Bringing an exuberant 21st-century approach to the South African tradition of brass bands, the Field Band Foundation uses music and dance to help young people in disadvantaged areas to improve their lives and boost their self-esteem.
Four bands from Gauteng will be hoping for home-ground and home-crowd advantage when they compete in the Field Band National Championships at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, 28 September 2013.
Bringing an exuberant 21st-century approach to the South African tradition of brass bands, the Field Band Foundation uses music and dance to help young people in disadvantaged areas to improve their lives and boost their self-esteem.
Of the nine field bands from across the country that have made it through to the finals of the competition’s premier division, four hail from Johannesburg, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni: the Black Like Me Soweto Field Band, the De Beers PPC Cullinan Field Band, the PFG Londulusha Field Band (from Springs) and the Alexandra Field Band.
They will be expecting local communities to spill into the stadium in their thousands to support them during the free event, taking place between 9am and 1pm at the iconic Johannesburg cricket stadium.
The Gauteng field bands will join the De Beers Blouberg Field Band and the De Beers Musina Field Band from Limpopo, the De Beers PPC Kimberley Field Band from the Northern Cape, the Black Like Me Mdantsane Field Band from the Eastern Cape, and the Cape Whaler Field Band from the Western Cape in vying for the honour of being named best field band of the year.
An additional four field bands will compete in the first division, for bands that have been in existence for five years or less: PPC Grahamstown Field Band (Eastern Cape), Anglo American Thabazimbi Field Band (Limpopo), Anglo American Tsantsabane Field Band (Northern Cape) and Bafokeng Field Band (North West).
There will also be a special guest performance by the Parys Field Band from the Free State, which includes a number of members with disabilities.
This non-profit initiative has won numerous awards since it was established in 1997, and today benefits around 5 000 young people from all corners of South Africa.
The national championships on 28 September will see around 1 700 of these young instrumentalists and dancers gathering in a vibrant celebration of sound, movement, colour and personal empowerment.
The 2013 Field Band Championships will be held at Wanderers Stadium in Corlett Drive, Illovo, Johannesburg on Saturday, 28 September between 9am and 1pm. Entrance is free and families, schools and communities are encouraged to come along and show their support for their local field bands. RSVP to info@fieldband.org.za.
