Mams music school rocks Unisa concertgoers
The Mams classical music school address the need and shortage of classical music tuition in Mamelodi, contribute to youth development and curb many of the community’s social ills.
Four Mamelodi Music Conservatoire (MMC) students performed at the Achievers Concert on October 13 to acclaim.
The four were invited to perform at the concert, a part of the Unisa scholarship competition after their exploits in the Unisa Tshwane music festival at the Enoch Sontonga conference complex in Sunnyside from October 2 to 6.
Khomotso Kotu (trombone), Somila Bafana Mqakhathi (trumpet), Bafikile Masombuka and Shee Mamoledi (violin) are part of the MMC family of 114 current students.
Kopo Ndhlovu of MMC said her students have performed in classical, and non-classical events as part of string and brass ensembles and in orchestras.
“The MMC students have collected 29 bronze certificates, 17 silver and three gold in the process,” said Ndhlovu.
The gold certificate recipients were Motheo Thopola, Mqakathi and Malvern Mafa.
She said the quartet was selected to perform at the concert by the Unisa examination board after each achieved distinctions in their recent practical exams.
MMC is a classical music school in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, that was founded in 2009 but registered as an NPO in 2016.
She said the mission of MMC is to address the need and shortage of classical music tuition in Mamelodi. It is also to contribute to youth development and curb many of the community’s social ills such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, crime and school dropouts.
“The ultimate vision is to become the first and leading youth orchestra in Mamelodi,” she added.
MMC offers practical and theoretical classical music tuition to students aged 8–23 years, mainly from Mamelodi and Hammanskraal.
The school is hosted by Koos Matli Primary School from 08:30–14:30 every Saturday and some school holidays.
MMC kept doors open through the Covid-19 lockdown thanks to director and founder Onica Ramatjela and her dedicated tutors.
Ndhlovu said in 2022 the North West university awarded Kgomotso Sibanyoni an academic merit bursary to read music at the institution.
He is now in his second year majoring in bassoon playing.
That same year, MMC performed as a curtain raiser at the Moretele Park tribute concert.
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