98 Drakensberg Boys Choir
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12/10/2018 I TERM 4 I NEWSLETTER
ISSUE
98
Photo taken by Erika Linde
WELCOME BACK!
INSIDE:
DRAKIES MAKE US PROUD
AT HILTON COLLEGE Welcome back as we start the final term of the 2018 school year. I
trust the short break you had with your son was enjoyable and that
it was good to have him home for a while. You should now find that
INTRODUCING: your food budget returns to normal and that you have plenty of data
TOBIAS STüCKELBERGER left at the end of the month.
Follow me to page 2
MESSAGE FROM OUR
MESSAGE FROM
EXECUTIVE HEADTHE
EXECUTIVE HEAD
WELCOME BACK! (Continued from page 1)
Before you realise it we shall be into exams, the Noёl Tour, various farewells and closing functions and then CIB
which marks the end of our school year.
Call Back from the Past
Towards the end of last term I was delighted to meet with Charl Roux, an Old Boy of our school. He dropped in to
visit the school and left with me two scrapbooks his mum kept of the journey which her three sons took through
Drakies, way back in the late 1960s. What a treasure trove of memories they provided. I absolutely loved paging
through them!
I found a few wonderful bits of news that harken back to those long-ago times, when life was perhaps a little more
carefree for a Drakie boy and the cost of living was certainly cheaper! Look at this:
From School Newsletter Number 2 dated 25 March 1969:
Would all parents allow their sons to have dental check-ups during the coming holidays? We will always take the
boys in for emergency treatment, but each time we go into Estcourt it costs us R7 in running expenses…
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the School community for producing yet another great MiMs weekend. In particular, I
Then,
would likefrom theall
to thank School Newsletter
the boys dated 8 Mayresilience,
for their tremendous 1969: dedication and professionalism during the preparation and the event
itself. We GOODBYE TO STEVEN AND MELANIE…CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Unfortunately the Junior Choir tour of the Eastern Transvaal was marred by an accident on the last day in
Empangeni. A buffalo, which had escaped from the Umfolozi Game Reserve, broke into the fenced garden of an
Empangeni home. Leslie Legg and four other children scattered but the animal caught and threw Leslie, which
caused serious damage to his one leg. A game ranger who was called to destroy the animal, unfortunately only
wounded it and it turned on him and injured him seriously too! He is currently lying in the same hospital… next to
Leslie.
I certainly hope that the antelope we have wandering round the campus don’t start throwing their weight around
here. Shades of Animal Farm perhaps?
2
Dads ‘n’ Lads Maintenance Weekend
A team of nine dads and their boys arrived for our first ever Maintenance Weekend last Friday and were
immediately put to work. Just look at what they managed to accomplish:
Lights in Griffin House bathrooms replaced and now conform to regulations.
Extractor fans repaired or replaced. All now in working order.
Smoke detectors installed and all operational.
Hooks and towel rails repaired.
Broken and missing tiles replaced in bathrooms.
Faulty wiring rectified.
Plugs installed for external floodlighting.
New shower roses fitted where necessary and dripping taps repaired.
Leaking urinals repaired.
Mirrors replaced.
Staffroom prepped for new coat of paint and décor.
Ceilings in Tungay House painted.
Ladies loo revamped: new external door, new lighting, fresh coat of paint, décor upgrade. Thanks
especially here to Merle and Keith Branch for initiating this project.
Rising damp in various rooms addressed. (Work still ongoing).
I was overwhelmed at the gees displayed by the dads and the lads alike. Everyone got stuck in, there was great
comraderie, excellent meals were provided by Mikkie from the kitchen to keep the starving masses fed and a
wonderful braai, down at the boma on Saturday night, helped dull the pain of the Boks going down to the All
Blacks.
The following dads, boys and members of staff deserve special mention: John Fraser, his boy Jordyn and their
team, Anton and Xander Erasmus, Riaan and Daniel van Jaarsveld, Jacques and Brett Fernihough, Mike and Kevin
Smith, Shaun and Dylan Palm, Darren and Ethan Seagreen, Rowen and Reece Olsen, Scott and Heath Houston.
Thanks are also extended to Mikkie Enslin and her kitchen ladies who were ably assisted by Erika Linde; Verna
Ayliffe for providing comfortable accommodation; Pieter Jansen van Vuuren, our Estates Manager; and last, but
certainly not least, Merle and Keith Branch.
There is still a long list of projects outstanding and I am hoping we can have another Maintenance Weekend
before school reopens in the New Year. Any dads who are keen should let me know.
Last Word
You only need two basic tools in life: Q20 spray and duct tape. If it doesn’t move and it should, use Q20. If it
moves and it shouldn’t, use duct tape!
Till next time,
Greg Brooks
Executive Head
3
DRAKIES MAKE US PROUD AT HILTON COLLEGE
DRAKIES MAKE HISTORY
The Drakensberg Boys Choir School is proud to congratulate
Lengana Mashapu, Head Boy of DBCS during 2016. He has been
selected as Deputy Head Boy of Hilton College for 2019 as well as
Head of Music.
Lengana Mashapu and his mom Dr Bernice Mashapu
We also congratulate the following Drakie Old Boys who received awards at Hilton College’s Speech Day:
Jacob Chidawaya receiving his
award from the Guest
Speaker, Gary Kirsten
Stephen Barnard Was awarded a Commendation in the Industry Order in the 3rd Term, a Commendation in the Mark
Order in the 3rd Term and awarded a Commendation Certificate. He passed his Trinity
Guildhall/Rock and Pop Grade 7 Classical Voice Exam with Merit.
Jacob Chidawaya Was awarded Honours for Music and was awarded a Commendation in the Industry Order in the
3rd Term. He was awarded Honours for Academics and passed his Grade 8 Classical Voice Exam
with Merit. He was awarded the Grade 12 Music Prize, the Choral Prize and the Chairman's Prize
(to a top academic who has contributed significantly) on Speech Day.
Daryl Kwaramba Was awarded Honours for Music and was awarded a Commendation in the Industry Order in the
3rd Term.
4
INTRODUCING: TOBIAS STüCKELBERGER
Tobias Stückelberger
At my first rehearsal with the choir, I Invited the Drakies to ask me questions. Here are some of them and my
answers:
What sports do you like?
I am a big fan of hiking – so there could be no better place for me to work than a school right next to a mountain. I also
like skiing, but with that I will probably have to wait for my holidays back in Switzerland.
How old are you?
25
What other choirs have you worked with?
I grew up in the Basel Boys’ Choir and then later started conducting the Junger Kammerchor Basel. In Oslo, where I read
for my Master’s degree, I worked with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir.
What do you expect from us (the singers) in a rehearsal?
I expect you to be well prepared and to work as team players towards the same goal. Each and every singer should
always think like a conductor: What can we do better? Was that chord correct? Were we in synch with the drums in that
bar? What is my emotional connection to this song? By doing this we can grow together as a group and become one
functioning organism.
We must work very hard and concentrate in rehearsals, so that we can celebrate, enjoy and let music happen in our
concerts!
What are your goals with the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir?
I would like to introduce the choir to some fantastic pearls of choral music from all around the world that I have
encountered over the years. The exceptional sound of this group and the abilities of the boys not only to sing, but also
to dance, act and play instruments – all at the same time – inspire me, and call for a work where sound and visuals
become connected in one experience.
Furthermore, I want to give space to each singer to grow as a person and as a musician in this wonderful environment.
It is the greatest gift to be able to work with such eager and talented young people!
5
PHOTO MOMENTS
Greg Brooks, Executive Head of the Drakensberg Boys
Choir School, with South Africa’s First Lady, Dr Tshepo
Motsepe.
Dr Motsepe attended a concert of the Drakensberg
Boys Choir School at the Rosebank Union Church in
Sandton on 28 September 2018
HALF CENTURY SUNDIAL DONATED BY THE GRADE 9 CLASS OF 2017
6
WEDNESDAY CONCERT AWARDS
OUTSTANDING SOLOISTS
Neo Ramalitse Kabo Madi
VOICE GROUP OF THE WEEK:
TENORS
7
COMMENDABLE PERFORMANCES
Connor McKenzie Brett Fernihough Marco Marais
Francois Snyman Luke Torres Vuyo Mcanyana
Matthew Robinson
8
CONCERT STATUS
Congratulations to Andrѐ Coetsee, Olwethu Nkonyane and Xander Erasmus, on receiving Concert Status! To
their mentors Kevin Jordaan, Alec Gibson and Sean Morrick, congratulations on a job well done.
Sean Morrick with mentee Andrѐ Coetsee
Alec Gibson and his mentee Olwethu Nkonyane Kevin Jordaan and his mentee Xander Erasmus
9
NEWS FROM BOARDING
TUNGAY HOUSE
Our boys continue to enjoy their home away from home in Tungay House. Thanks to the Dads ‘n’ Lads
maintenance weekend we were able to have the ceilings painted in Royce and Dragons dormitories.
The next phase is to upgrade the shower and toilet area. We are looking at a nautical theme, with ships, sea,
anchors, lifebuoys and rope being the order of the day.
Keith Branch
Ethan Seagreen hard at work improving his dorm
Xander Erasmus assisting his Dad
10HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Luke Jansen van Vuuren Joshua Stuart
15 October 15 October
Max Tanesse
17 October
11DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR SCHOOL
Calendar 12 October to 21 October 2018
DATE EVENT TIME
12 October Legacy Project: Showcase
13 October Academics 08:30-12:30
14 October Cayley Lodge Waterpark outing 09:00-13:00
14 October Chapel 18:15
17 October Wednesday Concert 15:30
19 October Legacy Project: Leadership Workshop
19 October Voting for 2019 Prefects
20 October Legacy Project: Focus Group @ DBCS
Legacy Project: Prize Giving (Teachers)
20 October Choir 08:30-12:30
21 October Chapel 18:15
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Tel: +2736 468 1012 | Fax: +2736 468 1709 | Email: administration@dbchoir.com | www.dbchoir.com
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