Call the mine proctor: Bryanston Primary School has employed two diamonds to join their school in its 70th year of educating Sandton’s future, and they have resurrected the school choir.
The Bryanston Primary School choir had not sung at assembly for nearly a decade until the morning of February 19, through the collaborative effort of two new staff members – piano-playing music teacher Matthew Hartdegen (37) and choir-conducting Grade 2 teacher Celine Mosca (26) who brought the school choir back to life this year.
Hartdegen has been playing the piano for 30 years, and teaching music for 11 years and Mosca sang in her own primary and high school choirs on their respective journeys to becoming choir revivers.
“I started playing piano just before I turned eight; it was the best decision of my life and I love it,” said Hartdegen, who accompanied the choir learners on piano as Mosca led them through Coldplay’s Viva la Vida during practice after school on February 23. “Before I came to Bryanston Primary, I was based in Cairo, Egypt. I taught the Prince Edward Island syllabus there for two academic years. Prior to that, I [taught] in the private school system.”
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Being a homeroom teacher in Cairo meant that Hartdegen taught six subjects: English, mathematics, science, life sciences, health and music.
Mosca first joined a choir in 2005, when she was doing her first grade of school, in the same year as when Hartdegen was in matric and teaching music for the first time. Mosca rediscovered her love for choir in Bryanston.
“This is my first year teaching at Bryanston Primary; I taught at Laerskool Unika in Robindale, and I have been conducting for three weeks,” she confided. “We’re in a learning environment, and we all get to learn something. As the choir learns their new songs, I am learning a new skill as well. The need for instruments and music teaching is huge in this school. The children are really excited about it.”
Hartdegen and Mosca are looking to get Bryanston Primary School’s newly reformed choir ready in time to perform for delegates of the school in April.
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