14 June 2024
Some times of the school year are more challenging than others. For example, the last week of the second term, when the learners have finished writing exams, and they’re anything but eager to get back to a week in the classroom. The teachers, meanwhile, are under immense pressure to get their marking completed. What to do, what to do?
Clifton School seems to have solved that issue. Their annual Cultural D@ze initiative, which turns the last week into a focus on cultural activities, culminating in the Concert on the Lawn, on the last evening of the term, is a superb solution.
On Thursday evening, on the grass alongside Founders House, families gathered, bringing blankets and picnic baskets. Some chose not to concern themselves with food. There was, after all, a night market, with plentiful options to take care of that.
Inside the Ken McKenzie Hall, there was a wide variety of goods for sale, including clothes, hats, waistcoats even, condiments, baked goods and memorabilia celebrating the school’s 100 years. Outside, a food square, with hanging lights twinkling, and delicious smells filling the air, and making it a warm and inviting place.
Parents and children chatted, the younger ones ran around, burning off some energy. As one might say in SA, “a lekker atmosphere”.
The concert featured four acts, the first of which was the Clifton College Band. They had first played together two years previously at the same event. Thursday’s performance was a nostalgic one as it was, for most of them, who are in matric, their last one with the band.
No doubt, the highlight of their appearance was a memorable performance of “Careless Whisper”. They made it all their own, with an up tempo and jazzy version of the George Michael classic. Even Simon Cowell would have approved.
Following them onto the stage was 2015’s Head Boy Max Koenig, who sang the school’s Centenary Song, which was released earlier in the year. He performed mostly original songs and delivered a stirring rendition of Robbie William’s magnificent “Angels”.
The highlight of his set, though, was a duet of Aerosmith’s “I don’t wanna Miss a Thing”, sung with grade 8 Clifton learner Aiden Martin.
“It was so much fun,” Aiden grinned afterwards. “It was very nice performing with Max. He’s very good at piano. When I was first rehearsing with him yesterday, it was in a higher key, and then he made it three keys lower. He knew how to do it.”
Koenig said being a part of Clifton’s Centenary celebrations has been very special: “It’s really cool to come and see the school again and see how much it has changed, but also how everything has stayed the same. The ethos and vibe hasn’t changed one bit, even though everything looks fancy and new. It still reminds me of when I was here.”
He also said he was thrilled to witness the growth of the school’s cultural options: “It’s so great to see. I’ve been a part of this cultural week for this last week, and it is so great to see what it has become.
“To see guys getting involved, to see youngsters getting up and singing, to see workshops and song writing, boys playing marimbas, different types of arts, and drama and acting and dancing is fantastic.”
There was a distinctly South African style for the third act, Maskandi duo, Qadasi and Maqhinga, who captured the spirit of the country in their music.
They performed their own Zulu folk compositions, with a couple of songs from other artists thrown in for good measure, including Johnny Clegg and Savuka’s “I call your Name”.
Then, it was the turn of The Lion and the Bear Power Trio, featuring the Panther on the drums to finish off the evening with a banging, high energy performance. If there was a prize for the musicians who appear to have the most fun when they perform, they would have walked away with it.
The Lion, Clifton guitar teacher Ross Meintjies, so named because of his flowing mane, finished off the set with the most magical performance of the South African national anthem on his electric guitar. Mind-blowing and mesmerising!
Throughout the concert, there was a steady buzz in the air – people enjoying the music but also enjoying each other’s company. And there were also plenty of Clifton staff members in attendance. It was an opportunity for them, too, to forget about marking for a moment.
As a community-enhancing idea, and as a solution to the problems the last week of the second term poses, Cultural D@ze absolutely hits the mark. Some other schools might want to consider a similar solution. And if there were marks up for grabs for the idea, Cultural D@ze gets a solid A.
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