Steenberg High School will on Sunday 11 March 2018, present the inaugural CFLAT YOUTH JAZZ FESTIVAL.
The festival is hosted in proud association with Musiquelaine SA, The Fostering Foundation, Music Exchange and RJ Benjamin.
Opening at 3pm, the event will be held in the main courtyard on the Steenberg High School premises, where the 1000-seater outdoor Alstom Music Pavilion has been erected.
Mr Andre Kraak the school’s Principal is delighted to see the courtyard at the school being used to its full capacity, allowing the following institutions to participate at this years exciting inaugural event. These include:
- Steenberg High Wind Band
- South Peninsula High School Jazz Band,
- Steenberg High Jazz Band
- Steenberg High Jazz Ensemble
- Stellenbosch University Jazz Ensembles
- The Fostering Foundation Artists
The showcase also includes special guests Sophia Foster and RJ Benjamin. Benjamin will fly in from Johannesburg to mentor the Steenberg School jazz band for the preceding week. He will also be performing some his own material, fresh from his sold-out Orbit Jazz show.
Sophia Foster too has decades of music knowledge, international performance experience and vocal prowess to share. Together, they will be dedicating the week leading up to the event to refining the Steenberg musician’s repertoire and integrating The Fostering Foundation singers into the festival programme.
Steenberg High School has established itself for its academic and sporting excellence. In 2013, the school introduced a music education project, created by the NGO Musiquelaine SA. Today the school is equally respected for its music excellence.
This music project has highlighted the innate musical talent of community youth. It aspires to reach out to other schools in the area too by offering the immediate and greater community of Steenberg a platform for music entertainment.
The Alstom Music Pavilion has provided a much-needed space for developing cultural events at the school and more specifically for public events open to the Steenberg community and its surrounds.
Historically, the diversity on the Cape Flats has proved to be one of the most musically creative and vibrant places in South Africa.
Aligning with the Musiquelaine S.A. motto: ‘Music education for life transformation’, the purpose of the CFLAT YOUTH JAZZ FESTIVAL is to create a unique opportunity to showcase the abundant musically talented youth of the Cape Flats. Additionally, in partnership with highly respected South African musicians this event will enable mentorship and the further development of the talent of participating and aspiring performers.
Both Sophia and RJ commented: “We are delighted and honoured to be involved. This gives us the opportunity to pass on our experience and provide guidance to the next generation of talent.
More than a passion project, like minded foundations including The Fostering Foundation, Music Exchange and Musiquelaine SA have collaborated and the aim is to pro actively foster young aspiring talent in order for them to reach their full potential.”
Sophia Foster -pictured
The vision is for The CFlat Youth Jazz Festival is to be the precursor to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, and it will take place annually in the two weeks leading up to it.
R J BENJAMIN pictured
The first edition of the CFLAT YOUTH JAZZ FESTIVAL will be launched on Sunday, 11 March, at 3pm, at The Steenberg High School.
Join us in a celebration of the musical talent – with the people for the people.
Tickets are available from the school, on 021 701 2281
Or via QUICKET at R50 .00 each
For interviews or more information contact:
Jo Francis
021 701 2281
Steenberg High School
Cnr Symphony Avenue and Orchestra Street
Steenberg
7945
Martin Myers 
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