updated 05/15/2008

2008 USA Exchange Students Announced

Freddy Mondhlana, originally from Witbank, lives with his unemployed mother and three sisters. Freddy matriculated in the year 2005, where he joined the Witbank FBF in the same year, he plays Tuba in the band.	Victoria Molelekwa, better known as “Stella”, is from Kimberley. Stella lives with her single Mother, and twin sister. She matriculated in the year 2006. She joined the Kimberley Field band in 2000 and has been a member of the dancers since then.	Vukile Mabija, lives with his unemployed single mom in Kimberley, together with his brother and 3 cousins. He matriculated in 2006 and joined the Kimberley Field Band as a Trumpet player in 2005	Peter Maluleke, born and bred in Hammaskraal,  now lives in Cullinan with both his parents, and two siblings, a brother and sister. He matriculated in the year 2004, and joined the Field Band Foundation in the year 2005. He is a Baritone player for his band. Peter is the repeat participant for this year by request from the Pioneers.

SOUTH AFRICAN FIELD BAND INVITED TO NORWAY

Fifty three members from different FIELD BANDS in South Africa, were selected to form one band which will represent South Africa at the music festival “Spilleglede” in Stavanger, Norway. Stavanger was chosen as the “European City of Culture” for 2008. 9000 musicians, children and adults and 240 bands will come together here for this festival from 20 – 24 June. The Festival in Stavanger will present show contests and street parades; His Majesty The King’s Garde of Norway will perform, there will be concerts with established artists and some of the most promising young artists. Also on the programme will be the Norwegian championships for schools bands and workshops. The National Field Band will make the festival even more colourful with their wonderful rhythm and dance. They will perform on several stages, and share some of their skills with Norwegian dancers and musicians on workshops. This is the biggest South African contingent to visit Norway and all the costs are covered in Norway by the Norwegian Band Federation and their supporters. The Field Band Foundation in South Africa was established in 1997 by philanthropists Bertie and Ronnie Lubner, starting with 600 youngsters in 4 provinces. They now have 28 Field Bands with over 4000 members Members of youth bands formed by the FIELD BAND FOUNDATION, come from 151 Townships and 248 schools in township communities throughout the country. The FIELD BAND FOUNDATION’s mission is: ‘To create opportunities for the development of life skills in the youth through the medium of music and dance”. The Norwegian Band Federation turns 90 years in 2008. They have cooperated with the Field Band Foundation in South Africa since 2001 through the exchange programme “Bands Crossing Borders”. Over this period about 42 Norwegian teachers, each stationed in South Africa for a year, worked with local tutors to develop their skills. Twenty-seven South African Field Band members spent one year in Norway at a school where they have studied music – also doing workshops for Norwegian schools to teach them how to play music and dance at the same time - to African music of course. On their way to Norway, the South African Field Band will stop in Flanders for ten days to develop their skills in flag handling, Choreography and marching percussion. Vlamo, the Flemish organization for amateur music agreed to cover all costs of the stay in Flanders through a special grant from the Flemish Ministry of Culture.