At the Musicona non-school musical training centerin Bloemfontein South Africa which was established during Apartheid times,a radical project has been taking placein the recent years.
Bochabela String Orchestra was founded by an American bassist Peter Guy. The project has been a passion for Peter for 15 years."The classical music scene in Bloemfontein was really vibrant.
There were concerts constantly, the halls were full. But it was quite artificial because it was just for part of the population. Just prior to the change of government a young black girl was brought to me by the Arts Council, I started teaching her and she did extremely well. I started thinking “Well, if she can do well there must be other kids who can also do well," recalls Guy.
"I didn’t grow up with classical music. I was not exposed to it,” tells Siyolise Nyondo, a bassist. "I'm originally from Bloemfontein. The violin is the instrument that I love. It's my first instrument. I've never even played anything before that," tells Bonolo Kgaile, a violinist.
Each Saturday children from the black neighborhoods of Bloemfontein are brought by bus to the Musicon. Peter Guy himself picks them. In this way he’s able to know where they stay and connect with them.
Bloemfontein’s old guard has at times been slow to fully embrace talented young black musicians and some of the children in Bochabela String experience resistance from their own communities.
“People in my community see me as a snob because I play violin and it’s awestern musical instrument, “says Bonolo.
During the weekdays younger children known as junior orchestras from across Bloemfontein come to the Musicon after school to learn to play classical instruments.They are taught by their senior orchestras like Siyolise whotransfer their skills to younger musicians.
"As our younger kids who started 15 years ago have grown up they’ve become the absolute perfect teachers,” says Guy.
At the Musicona non-school musical training centerin Bloemfontein South Africa which was established during Apartheid times,a radical project has been taking placein the recent years.
Bochabela String Orchestra was founded by an American bassist Peter Guy. The project has been a passion for Peter for 15 years."The classical music scene in Bloemfontein was really vibrant.
There were concerts constantly, the halls were full. But it was quite artificial because it was just for part of the population. Just prior to the change of government a young black girl was brought to me by the Arts Council, I started teaching her and she did extremely well. I started thinking “Well, if she can do well there must be other kids who can also do well," recalls Guy.
"I didn’t grow up with classical music. I was not exposed to it,” tells Siyolise Nyondo, a bassist. "I'm originally from Bloemfontein. The violin is the instrument that I love. It's my first instrument. I've never even played anything before that," tells Bonolo Kgaile, a violinist.
Each Saturday children from the black neighborhoods of Bloemfontein are brought by bus to the Musicon. Peter Guy himself picks them. In this way he’s able to know where they stay and connect with them.
Bloemfontein’s old guard has at times been slow to fully embrace talented young black musicians and some of the children in Bochabela String experience resistance from their own communities.
“People in my community see me as a snob because I play violin and it’s awestern musical instrument, “says Bonolo.
During the weekdays younger children known as junior orchestras from across Bloemfontein come to the Musicon after school to learn to play classical instruments.They are taught by their senior orchestras like Siyolise whotransfer their skills to younger musicians.
"As our younger kids who started 15 years ago have grown up they’ve become the absolute perfect teachers,” says Guy.
Directors: Francois Verster
Writers:
Producers: Yingna Wu
Key cast:
Categories:
Student project: No
Completion date: 2012-09-30
Shooting format: Digital
Aspect ratio:
Film color: Color
First-time filmmaker: No
Subtitles:
Country:
Language: