Success leads to expansion

This thriving project was founded in 2003 by violinist Leanne Dolman who identified a need for recreational facilities and extra-mural activities for children in the historically disadvantaged communities of Hangberg Harbour Village and Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa.
 
It teaches music – mainly string instruments, voice and drumming – to about 60 children. A life skills programme addresses issues of drug-abuse, crime, HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy as well as encouraging goal-setting, discipline and the development of self esteem.
 
Members of the senior performing project are rapidly gaining a reputation for quality performances at concerts and functions. They have also performed for other successful projects, such as the Jikeleza Dancers at the Artscape Theatre.
 
Attendance has grown rapidly and the project needs a larger venue, more equipment, more teachers and facilitators. All this also means, inevitably, higher administrative costs.
 
What the project offers:

Violin lessons: five times a week
Cello lessons: four times a week
Drumming lessons: weekly
Life skills: weekly
Music theory: weekly
Senior and junior performing ensemble practises:
three times a week
Exposure to professional theatre: monthly
Regular income-producing performances: three times a month
 
During his Round the World and Bach journey David Juritz appeared with the group at a benefit concert – raising £700 which was used to buy instruments for the new electric violin project. The group enjoys broad support from all sectors of the community but could always do with more financial support. We hope we will be able to support them again.

How much is a piece of string?
Typical prices in London in 2008:
Cello £250
Double bass £500
Guitar £200
Viola £250
Violin £250
plus …
Strings £25 per set

Prices in Africa are … more or less the same.