This experiment successfully bridged two continents with the help of music: german students & teachers and south african musicians. The photo gallery shows impressions from the event; music videos of the New Skool Sextet can be found on their YouTube channel.
MIAGI – music is a great investment
South Africa as a guest in Soest
During summer of 2014 the founders of todays musicWays Germany association initiated an international cultur project in collaboration with the Music School Soest: “Südafrika zu Gast in Soest”. The invited the MIAGI Youth Orchestra and the New Skool Orchestra from South Africa to prepare their european concert tour in Soest. “MIAGI - Music Is A Great Investment” is the motto of the orchestra founder and singer Robert Brooks. This project was supported by mayor Dr. Eckhard Ruthemeyer and member of the german parliament Wolfgang Hellmich.
Intercultural exchange
This exchange will introduce the moving history of the Rainbownation to kids and youth of Soest. In the morning the musicians visited primary-, secondary- and high schools. Themes of this intercultural exchange were:
- Experiences with Apartheid
- Democratic understanding (Are european democratic models applicable to the african continent)
- The life and works of Nelson Mandela
- The power of music as an integrative force
You can find more about MIAGI and many music videos here:
The Convos High school generously offered their sports hall as a rehearsal room. The rehearsals were open to the public and visited by local students and citizens. A central role in organization and execution of this orchestra project was played by the Music School Soest. Drummers from south africa visited many institutions to teach courses on playing the Djembe, a traditional african drum.
On 27th of June the public general rehearsal “Südafrika in concert” took place in the sold out city hall of Soest. Afterwards the MIAGI orchestra started off to the european concert tour (Berliner Philharmonie, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Ludwigsburger Festspiele and more concerts in Sweden).
Press material and photo impressions from the event can be found here:
MIAGI 2015 – New Skool Sextet
MIAGI and South Africa back in Soest: During summer 2015 the New Skool Sextet under direction of Tshepo Tsotetsi visited Soest for a week. Besides intercultural exchange in schools there were rehearsals for a project that combined the Burning Big Band, the youth symphony orchestra of the Music School Soest and the New Skool Sextet under the lead of Tshepo Tsotetsi. On the 26th of June the final concert took place in the aula of the Schulzentrum Soest. During the first half of the concert the New Skool Sextet demonstrated their Jazz expertise. Under the lead of the south african conductor the ensembles of the Music School Soest played the second half.
