Zimkitha Nompunga passed her grade 1 clarinet exam in August, as well as alto recorder grade 3: both with distinction. We expect that she will master grade 3 or 4 next year.

“When I started it was 2006, when I came to lessons I knew nothing about recorder and as the time go by I learn more. At times my attendance wasn’t so good, but in time I improved. When I was with the other recorder kids, I feel more safe, because before I used to go in the streets and play. In the beginning my mother didn’t like the recorder but in time when my mother meet Helen she agreed for me to come. I also didn’t like recorder, but as the years went by I see that I learn something that I would never have learn before. And also the recorder makes me to go to places that I would never have gone to before.”

Lihle Mtshonisi our 15 year old leader continues to do well. The students have now elected deputy leaders for specific roles so that we grow and nurture a responsible leadership team.

Lihle has had a conversation with Thabang Meslane (our Executive Director) who has offered to help  with leadership development too. All the students continue to receive input from Hanneke van der Merwe and our Hamburg teacher team who are delivering a new pilot programme of Life Skills and Self Awareness.

After only 10 months of lessons Lihle passed his UNISA Grade 3 exam with merit and his alto recorder exam with distinction in August.

Wonke Mapuma joined Keiskamma Music Academy in February 2010.  He is 12 years old and in sixth grade at Hamburg Primary School, where his favourite subjects are maths and natural sciences. He achieved 90%, a distinction, for his recent grade 2 UNISA recorder exam.

Wonke enjoys expressing his feelings through music.  He loves playing “Ubuhle Bendoda”, a traditional Xhosa Wedding Song, with the other music students.  Wonke practices at home, where he lives with his grandmother.  She also enjoys hearing him play.  His parents are not alive but he lives with some of his older cousins.  They like his playing and keep track of how quickly he is progressing in music.

One of the reasons Wonke joined the Music Academy is because he was excited to travel for performances.  On the concert tour to Gauteng, he was excited to see the soccer stadium.  According to Wonke, one of the most important things about himself is how much he loves playing soccer.

Wonke wants to be a professional clarinet player when he grows up, because he loves the sound of clarinet.  He enjoys listening to the South African singer Jezebel, as well as jazz music.


These are just 3 of our students. Every one of our young people has their own story to tell, their own hopes, fears and aspirations. We hope that these photos of all of them, at work and play, give a flavour of our Music Academy team!