The right to become a violinist
2005-08-18
BEETHOVEN, Bach, Chopin, and Mozart are long dead composers, whose music may seem out of place against the backdrop of one of South Africa’s poorest communities.
Yet for Sinazo Maseti - as for many other children who have grown up on the dusty streets of Mbekweni - classical music has become an all important part of her life.
After school, Sinazo doesn’t always go back to the humble home where she lives with her mother, her two brothers and three sisters.
On Wednesdays she resumes her violin lessons at the Frank Pietersen Music Centre in Paarl.
The youngest of the siblings, Sinazo (14) is a grade 9 learner at the Ihlumehlo Secondary School in Mbekweni. Her father died when she was one year old, leaving the family destitute.
Today her mother relies heavily on a child grant, while she and two of her elder children eke out a living as seasonal farm workers.
When Sinazo was in Grade 5 she heard about the Frank Pietersen Music Centre from a friend.
She was convinced that this was the place where she belonged. She filled in audition forms and kept visiting the Centre, asking for an audition.
Finally her persistence paid off and, after the audition she was accepted into the music programme.
Since starting tuition the beginning of 2004, Sinazo has hardly missed a lesson.
According to her violin teacher, Charlene Hofstander, she has made such good progress that she is to play the Grade 2 violin exam this year.
Symphony concerts
The Frank Pietersen Music Centre is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year by presenting two Youth Symphony Orchestra concerts at the Paarl Town Hall on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August.
The music will be provided by young student musicians, many of whom come from previously disadvantaged communities of the Boland.
Various music groups of the Centre will be showcased, while the main part of the programme will be performed by the Youth Symphony Orchestra, which will be conducted by internationally acclaimed conductor, Prof Dr Alun Francis of Berlin.
Dr Francis has composed a special work for these concerts, A Song for Mandela, dedicated to Nelson Mandela, which is expected to be the highlight of the two evenings.
This work is composed for symphony orchestra, African percussion instruments, jazz instruments, choir and a vocal soloist.
Sinazo has her sights firmly set on combining her interest in music with teaching, and in this way giving back to other children what she is receiving at the Centre.
While that may be her dream for tomorrow, today she is proud to have achieved a place in the intermediate ensemble and the Junior Symphony Orchestra.
She regularly attends her theory lessons, knowing that the theoretical aspects are vital to broad musical training. In addition, she attends orchestra rehearsals on Mondays and makes sure she doesn’tmiss the African percussion lessons.
She has a good command of English and often sits in as an interpreter during the lessons of her friends.
With all the sacrifices made since 1970 by learners, teachers, parents and suppotters, Pietersen believes that something of great value to the community has taken shape.
“I am convinced that the Centre is a symbol of inspiration to many children who have had very little opportunity to pursue their dreams.”
This sentiment is amplified a thousand times in the shy smile and simple words of Sinazo: “When I finish school, I want to come here and be a music teacher”.
For concert enquiries, 872-2123.
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