Young choristers will take to the stage for the South African School Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) competition, which will run over three days from 30 June – 2 July 2015. SASCE 2015 is going back to its spiritual home at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg in Gauteng. This year the theme for the Eisteddfod is “Celebrating 60 Years of the Freedom Charter Through Music”.
There will also be an opening ceremony on Monday, 29 June 2015 at 19h00 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand to officially kickstart the 2015 SASCE Nationals.
SASCE, now in its 15th year, remains one of the most crucial school enrichment programmes that promote unity in diversity, national reconciliation, a new South African National Identity, social transformation and social cohesion among learners. Our learners will recite the Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa including singing the Plea for Africa including singing of AU anthem.
In this, a time when South Africa celebrates 60 years of the Freedom Charter, music has long been one of the tools used to emancipate the people, spread messages of hope and celebrate our gains. It is thus fitting that the 2015 prescription is reflective of this celebratory and historic mood to remember where we come from as a people.
This year, SASCE in partnership with UNICEF, will continue assist disadvantaged learners from farm schools deal with musical incompetency and set a spotlight for them.
The Farm School Training Programme is growing and it no includes Mentorship Programme aimed at ensuring that the Farm School communities are also brought on par with other schools in terms of musical performance. The 2015 Farm schools camp will be hosted Heron Bridge Retreat from 26 – 29 June and almost 150 learners and teachers will be exposed to very exciting music, leadership and lifeskills programme
Since its inception in 2001, SASCE has continued to target learners whose passion and talent have been denied a public platform on which to shine. The role of SASCE in the schooling system has been acknowledged by many teachers in the country. It is with the help of programs such as SASCE that the DBE is able to contribute to the mitigation of learner’s engagement in inappropriate activities such drugs, alcohol and the adverse activities that manifest themselves.
SASCE Nationals come just as the nation recently observed and celebrated the Africa Month under the theme “We are Africa – Opening the doors of learning and culture from Cape to Cairo.”
This year SASCE will welcome schools from Swaziland Lesotho, Namibia, as well as participants to SASCE from Botswana, further underlining the departments’ quest and objective to unite the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region through music is on track.
The Department encourages parents, teachers and all stakeholders to visit Rhema Bible Church during the course of the three day competition to bask in the spotlight of this extravagant music spectacle and in so doing support the choirs while enjoying the soothing and fulfilling music on offer at the national championships. Entrance for the 3 days of the competition is Free!
There will be an opportunity to interview the learners, teachers and participants throughout the competition. Members of the media are requested to RSVP ahead of time to ensure accreditation is available for collection upon arrival. No member of the media will be granted access to the venue without accreditation owing to strict security measures at Rhema Bible Church in Randburg (Johannesburg) in Gauteng.
Members of the media are requested to please RSVP by contacting Tebogo Mushi by sms on: 076 332 9465 or email: mushi.t@dbe.gov.za
Enquiries and interview requests:
Balosang Sanki Lerefolo
Cell: 082 836 8793
E-mail: lerefolo.s@dbe.gov.za/balosang@gmail.com
