For the second year running, GrandWest Casino and Code Teen will hand over music equipment to Chris Hani Arts and Culture High School in Khayelitsha on Tuesday, 18 September. The Chris Hani Arts and Culture High School was this year’s beneficiary of the 2012 High School Jam competition which took place at the GrandWest Grand Arena at the end of July 2012.
The 2011 competition beneficiaries were Zola Business School who went on to participate in the 2012 event, with an impressive performance that was well received by the crowd at the Grand Arena.
The event, aimed at promoting musical development in the Western Cape, encourages high schools to compete through music, dance and performance whilst gaining exposure in the entertainment industry. The idea behind this concept is to provide interactive learning experiences for all the teenagers and schools involved, to better highlight life skills and personal development.
Gavin Taylor, the entertainment manager of GrandWest who is a joint organiser said: “The Grand Arena usually hosts international superstars, so for us, we love the opportunity the High School Jam gives us to offer a professional stage to young up-and-coming local talent. They are extremely talented and we are certain that many will return to the Grand Arena stage some day to perform as professionals.”
In 2003, the Chris Hani High school became an Arts and Culture Focus School with the first batch of learners writing the Grade 12 Matric in 2007 in specific art forms such as Dramatic Arts, Dance, Visual Arts, Design, and Music. They were also the first group from a local township to perform at the Grahamstown Festival where they represented their school.
Karen Burt of Code Teen, the co-organiser, said: “I’m delighted with the music instruments we were able to buy for the school, and thanks to a discount from Marshall Music we were able to ensure we bought the best quality equipment”. The equipment which will be handed over includes a Marimba set, Santa FE Bass Guitar, Marshall 60W Bass Amplifier, Epiphone Special ll Lead Guitar, Hiwatt 50W Lead Guitar Amplifier, Yamaha P95 Digital Stage Piano, Tanglewood Discovery Accoustic with Pickup, Djembe Drum, Set of Congas and Saxophone-Tenor.
