1 August 2023
Maritzburg College is gearing up for an eight-hour extravaganza of entertainment, the 160th Music Concert, to be held on Barns’ Field, on Wednesday, 9 August, with the festivities starting at 13:00.
The event brings the curtain down on Simon Stickell’s time as Director of Music at the school. He and his wife, Joni, also a member of the Music Department, have emigrated to China within the past few days, but Mr Stickells is flying back to South Africa to oversee the big event he put so much time into organising. It’s a fitting end to a hugely successful time in charge of music at College for the man with the can-do attitude.
Tickets are on sale at R220 for adults and R120 for scholars, while children under five are free. The tickets also ensure entry into the lucky draw, which will see one very fortunate concert-goer walk away with a unique Fender-style replica Maritzburg College 160th Guitar.
Visit https://maritzburgcollege.co.za/event/160th-music-concert/ to make your bookings.
The concert features primary schools, high schools, symphonic bands, choirs, rock bands, marimbas, ensembles, wind bands, pipe bands, jazz bands, Matt Gardiner – Matt Gardiner – YouTube – and Rubber Duc – Rubber Duc – YouTube.
Thus, calling it a smorgasbord of tasty music options seems appropriate. (See end of article for the performers and times of performance).
A telling contribution
During their time with the Maritzburg College Department of Music, the Stickells made a telling contribution to the school, especially when Covid-19 closed so much down…but not music. They have much about which to be proud, and College, too, has achieved plenty in recent years on the arts and culture front, with husband-and-wife duo helping to drive that success.
The Maritzburg College Choir, once again, won Gold at the ATKV Appolous Regional Choir Festival, hosted at College, this year.
Chatting with Pinnacle Schools, Mr Stickells said: “This year, we participated in the open category. Now, the open category means competing against any school that does open, and the categories are open. So, you go up against a traditional programme, or a popular programme, or an Afrikaans popular programme.”
Maritzburg College Choir going from strength to strength | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
Winners
In 2022, when the Maritzburg College Choir competed in the “meriete” Afrikaans programme, they not only won Gold, but they also won their section. Competing in the open category this year meant the programme possibilities were far wider.
Quite apart from the more diverse challenge the boys faced, the decision to compete in the open category was also made to avoid a clash with the Pretoria Boys’ High exchange, when College visited the South African capital; if College had made the Final, they would have had to perform in Pietermaritzburg on the Friday of the exchange.
However, it was also about helping the Choir to evolve, Mr Stickells said, especially since they had done so well in the “meriete” Afrikaans programme the previous year. “We thought let’s do something different, so that they can separate themselves a bit, and do their own thing.
“It worked out well, actually. They were very, very good.”
Looking ahead to the big 160th Music Concert, Mr Stickells explained that the venue was chosen for very South African reasons. It can be reached by a generator!
The concert, which forms part of College’s 160th anniversary celebrations, also impacted the decision made to contest the open programme at the ATKV Applous Regional Choir Festival, Joni Stickells said.
“The style is geared towards more popular music, so that’s why we entered into the open category [of the ATKV Festival], so you could choose a different style of music.
Nothing that the Choir has performed this year has been posted online, Joni Stickells said, and this was done deliberately. They want people to attend the event.
“Come to the concert. Come and experience it live. Don’t watch it on the screen,” she said.
Improvement
During her time in charge of the Choir, Joni Stickells said the quality of the singing improved, especially because of the challenges posed by competing.
“The boys get into a discipline of not just singing,” she explained. “They have a goal that they’re working towards, and it takes self-discipline. It’s not just another little society that you pitch up to. Sometimes you have to put in work in between practices, so that you can achieve a goal.
“They’ve realised that they can achieve things in the Choir, and they don’t have to stand back for anybody.”
Having won Gold every single year since 2019, the College Choir, under Simon and Joni Stickells, has excelled and the Stickells, no doubt, want to ensure they go out with a bang. That means a top performance from College’s musicians and singers in the 160th Anniversary Concert.
Bookmark the date: 9 August 2023. Barns’ Field. Maritzburg College. Don’t miss out!
Times and Line-up
13:00 St Anne’s Diocesan College Symphonic Band
13:30 Merchiston Prep
14:00 Cordwalles Choir
14:15 Cordwalles Rock Band
14:30 Pietermaritzburg GHS Wind Band
15:00 Retro Beats (Thomas More College)
15:30 St John’s Performance Marimbas
15:45 St John’s Junior Ensemble
16:00 Hilton College Competition Marimba Band
16:30 Michaelhouse Jazz Band
16:45 Michaelhouse Marimbas
17:00 Maritzburg College Jazz Ensemble
17:30 KZN Youth Wind Band
18:15 Matt Gardiner
18:45 Pietermaritzburg Caledonian Pipe Band
19:15 Maritzburg College Choir
19:45 Maritzburg College Jazz Band
20:15 Rubber Duc Setup/Lucky Draw/Birthday Celebration
20:30 Rubber Duc
21:00 Rubber Duc
21:30 End
Leave a Reply