The Music Department S IS CUSTOMARY, we reflect briefly on the matric (Trombone) and Mr Christiaan Pauw (Guitar). The full- results of the class of 2000. There were 22 candidates time teachers were unchanged, Dr Niel van der Watt, Mrs Aand four boys did two instruments. Of the 25 exami- Yvonne Reyburn, Ms Mathilda Hornsveld, Mr Abrie Jor- nations, 15 boys obtained distinctions, 4 obtained a B sym- daan, Mr Hanzel von Brughan and Mr Chris Vernon. Mr Ver- bol, 5 obtained a C symbol and one boy obtained an E non, however, is retiring at the end of the year after Music symbol. Pierre Roussouw obtained two music distinctions teaching saxophone at the School since 1991, first in a part- (Piano HG and Double Bass MP), Givan Löts also obtained time capacity and later as a full-time teacher. We would like two music distinctions (Guitar HG and Trumpet MP). The to take this opportunity to publicly thank him for the ten following boys obtained a distinction in music: Peter Ball years of service to the boys in the Music Department. He (Clarinet HG), William Bishop (Trombone HG), Wilken has built up a saxophone section that has helped to sustain Calitz (Violin HG), Darren Jocum (Trombone HG), Dono- the Dixie Band, Wind Band and Big Band over the last ten van Loots (Piano HG), Clinton Madgewick (Guitar HG), years. He has also instilled a love for the instrument and for Lebogang Malokane (Clarinet HG), Theuns Pienaar (Violin jazz in the many boys that have passed through his hands. HG), James Rushton (Piano We salute you, sir! HG), Roland Arnold (Flute MP), Lennox Batchelor Musical Highlights: (Tenor Saxophone MP). Centenary Year The Centenary Celebra- Organisation & Staff tions started with release of The Music Department the centenary CD recording started the centenary year done in August of 2000. The with a new record number insert provides a perspec- of students largely due to tive on the recording: the intake of more than 70 Seen in context, this music students in Form recording is a musical snap- One. Some adjustments had shot: an aural picture of to be made to the organisa- what is happening in the tion of the subject following Pretoria Boys High School the introduction of the OBE Music Department at the structures in the School. end of the first century of Music, with Visual Art, the School’s existence. Drama and Dance now form If you expect to hear four strands under the perfect renditions, you will umbrella of the OBE Learn- be disappointed, because ing Area 02, Arts and Cul- the intention of this record- ture. The long tradition of ing is to show the extent of teaching art and music at the music-making at the the school has made the School and not only the adjustment to OBE struc- excellent performances. tures and terminology fairly The individual perform- painless. These two strands ances are by the Form V’s of continue to be offered as Jozua Loots 2000 most of whom have choice subjects much as before. An extra Arts and Culture recorded an extract from their Matric Music Programme. period, however, has been introduced to expose all boys in Some of these performances are exceptional, considering forms I and II to a variety of artistic and cultural endeavour. the relatively short period some of the students have spent To this end, Mr Chris Klopper has joined the Music Depart- studying music. Musical talent is as varied as human nature ment and he focuses on the teaching of Arts and Culture itself and the performances will bear evidence of this fact. although he also teaches piano and plays the organ in assem- It is of our group music-making that we are particularly bly. proud. In this respect Pretoia Boys High School is certainly Some of the part-time music staff have also changed unique, since there are ten groups that perform regularly. due to an exodus of musicians from Pretoria with the clo- For any school, a boy’s school at that, there is an amazing sure of the State Theatre. The part-time teachers in 2001 amount of music happening here. It is in the groups that were: Mrs Lorette van Zyl (Horn, Viola, Piano and Accom- the greatest challenge lies, because of the fact that musi- paniment), Mrs Lisa Klopper (Flute and Accompaniment), cians of mixed ability and playing standard are performing Mrs Gudrun Melck (Cello and String Quartets), Mrs together ‘with patience and understanding, through honest Marike Prins (Double Bass and Accompaniment), Mrs and earnest labour …’ Hendy Krog (Violin and Accompaniment), Mrs Yvonne Jou- Very little would be achieved if it were not for the tire- bert (Clarinet and Clarinet Quartet), Mr Berwin Roberts less input of the individual music teachers. They are men- The Pretorian This page is sponsored by the Basson Family 64 tioned by name elsewhere, but one must pay special tribute strings, the balance remains somewhat problematic with to the dedicated way in which they share their expertise, twelve brass and twelve woodwind players. Demand to be talents and time with the music students at the school. part of the orchestra remains high, and as long as the strings So, sit back and listen to the whole recording at least – especially violins and cellos – keep rolling in, the Orches- once: it could prove an entirely informative – if not thor- tra will not only survive, but excel in the years to come. oughly delightful – experience. This is MUSIC at Pretoria Apart from the performances at A Hundred Years of Note Boys High School. and The Four Schools Concert, the Orchestra was invited to The Cabaret Concert, appropriately named, ‘A Hundred give three educational performances at the junior section of Years of Note’ was the first official music extravaganza. St Benedict’s School in Edenvale. Then there was the (by Anticipating a growing demand for tickets, the concert was now, standard) performance in the Pretoria Botanical Gar- staged on four consecutive nights in March. All the per- dens on Sunday 29 July (shared with the Pipe Band and formance groups strutted their stuff while the audience Dixie Band) and the Lunch Hour Concert (also a tradition) enjoyed an excellent three course dinner prepared by gour- in the Musaion at the University of Pretoria. Apart from met chef Mr Lotter, ably assisted by Mrs Jenny Forrest and playing an orchestral solo at the Four Schools Concert, the her music-mothers. Sandile Mabaso’s performance of ‘New School Orchestra was (as always) also the back-bone of the York, New York’, brought the house down. combined orchestra spending many rehearsals ensuring the The second big musical event was the annual school success of the concert. The Orchestra ended the year with production. This year, in keeping with tradition, Gilbert a performance at this year’s valediction, providing music for and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore was staged. Ms Mathilda the academic procession and providing a musical item with Trevor Langley (Martin Gibbs) Orchestra Seated on Ground (L to R): E Wang, C Elsenbroek, C Castle, S Wallace, C Basson, L Gericke, M Kieswetter, C Haupt, G Davis. Front Row, Seated (L to R): P Marais, M Willoughby, J Chen, S Pentz, W Louw, Dr N van der Watt (Conductor), J Steyn (Leader), W Hanekom, S Jonker, M Riemer. Second Row (L to R): O Cyrolies, D Prozesky, M Setiloane, S Hussey, R Lilje, A Melck, A Yates, A Mennen, J van der Merwe, S Trinder, M Kourie, J Jacobs, D Tseng, S Ferreira. Back Row (L to R): D Steyn, P Uys, J dos Santos, C Brown, T Mehl, S Ferreira, B Pitman, C Vorster, A Mowat, S Laenen, J Jocum, D Saxby. Hornsveld was the musical director and conductor of an all- the playing of New York, New York. A word of thanks to the boy orchestra playing the original Sullivan-score with matrics in the Orchestra. We will miss your input and aplomb (no mean feat for a schoolboy orchestra). Excellent enthusiasm. They are Pieter Marias (violin), Johann Slab- individual performances were given by Sandile Mabaso bert (violin), Jerry Chen (viola), Wilhem Louw (cello), (Ralph), Dylan Martin (The Captain), David Smith (The Stephen Pentz (clarinet), Mark Willoughby (clarinet), Admiral) and Andrew Gould (Dick Deadeye). Steven Jonker (horn), Mark Riemer (trumpet) and Wouter The third musical highlight was the Four Schools Con- Hanekom (trumpet). cert. The concert was an unprecedented success, and hailed The string quartet continued to be an active performing by many as the best Four Schools Concert ever. Part of the group. Apart from playing at School-related functions, they success of the three evenings was a shorter first half and the performed on three other occasions during the course of the favourable acoustic and logistic set up in the Aberneathy year. The first of these was none other than the inaugura- Hall. The complete programme is reproduced in the pages tion of the new Mayor of Tshwane. What a privilege to be that follow. asked to perform at such an auspicious occasion! Later in the year the string quartet provided entre-music for the Performing Groups opening of the new WHPS Auditorium. The third perform- The School Symphony Orchestra, consisting of roughly 50 ance was at our own Mrs Wallace’s son’s wedding. The members, includes all the standard instruments of the sym- string quartet says goodbye to their viola player, Jerry Chen. phony orchestra. Although there were more than twenty His departure is a significant loss in view of the fact that The Pretorian 65 there is no immediate replacement , the prospective viola their education department, during their lunch hour – fos- players still being too young and inexperienced to fill his tering good relations for an imminent return visit! Later on place.