Chamber Choir
Conductor: Ms D Holder
The membership of this choir is closed, usually with a total not exceeding 15. Prospective members have to audition for the available places and must be senior students (Grade 10 - 12), have choral experience, be good singers and must be able to sight read to some degree.
The choir meets twice weekly, on a Wednesday evening and from 10:15 to 11:10 on a Thursday. A variety of music is sung, including unaccompanied (a capella) and accompanied, sacred and secular. Choir members are encouraged to run their own part practices, to take occasional solos and to be part of the annual auditions. A choir head is elected each year. The level of commitment expected is high. "True commitment is when the going gets tough" (like during exams and on hot Thursday break times).
Because the group is fairly small, versatile and very transportable, it gets asked to sing at various events. Members may be awarded Colours and Half Colours, if they have met all the criteria.
Chapel Choir
Conductor: Mrs M Carver
Any keen singers are welcome to audition for the Chapel Choir. It is a big choir and there are two practices a week, one part practice and one full practice. It is a boys only choir, but it joins with the DSG Chapel Choir for special occasions. The two choirs sing together at several important events during the year, at special festival services in the Cathedral and during Arts Week and Prize Giving. However the main role of the choir is to lead the worship in chapel. Service to the Choir can lead to CEMA awards, and either Merit or Colours for Chapel Choir.
The Rock Band
Teacher in charge: Mr M Sabine
This six piece ensemble was started in 2009 and includes students from both DSG and SAC. The members of the group are chosen through auditions and meet twice a week on a Monday and Wednesday from 17h30 to 18h30. The instruments involved are: vocals, bass guitar, keyboard, drum kit, rhythm guitar and lead guitar. In addition, there are two technical crew members who help with the sound reinforcement requirements. The Band aims to play a variety of Rock music, usually with a slightly hard vintage edge.
Marimba Group
Conductor: Mrs M Carver
The marimba group meets once a week. They do not have to read music or have any previous experience playing instruments. The group practises to build up numbers that can be played for special occasions.
Pipe Band
Teacher in Charge: Mr S Ellis
Started in 1938, the College Pipe Band is probably the oldest school pipe band in the country. The band wears the Graham of Montrose tartan.
The band functions as the cadet band, playing for the school's normal cadet parades, which include a Retreat Ceremony on Speech Day, and a parade into town for Remembrance Sunday. In addition, the band is sometimes asked to play at other functions; and when the standard is sufficiently high, the band may travel away to compete at competitions around the country.
Pipers: Aspiring pipers are initially taught to play the bagpipe by a current member of the band. Once they graduate into the band itself, their teaching is taken over by the Piping Tutor. The length of time it takes for a learner to graduate into the band depends almost entirely on how much time he devotes to practising the instrument. As a very rough guide, if a learner spends only 15 minutes a day, it will take him at least 2 years to get into the band. Devoting half an hour a day will shorten this to perhaps 9 months. Really hard-working learners have been known to reach this stage in 2 months, but this is very rare. Real proficiency on the instrument follows only after a considerable period of time. Most pipers have the opportunity to play in individual piping competitions, and over the years many boys from College have been very successful in solo piping events.
Drummers fall into 2 categories - side drummers and bass section. Bass section players (bass or tenor) learn the basics very quickly - thereafter playing in the bass section becomes very boring unless the drummer makes an effort to develop his flourishing and learns to fit his rhythms to the music. He needs to make something of it himself.
Pipe Band side drumming is a highly developed form of drumming, with very involved technique, and as with piping, real expertise requires considerable effort. Side drummers are taught by the Drumming Tutor.
Band practice times are as follows:
It must be stressed that boys joining the band are expected to make a considerable commitment, in time, but more particularly in attitude. Learning to play the pipes or side drum requires self-discipline. Joining the band is not something that can be done as an occasional pastime - once a boy is in the band, he is expected to work hard at his skill level, and to strive for perfection.
Boys interested in joining the Pipe Band should consider carefully what other activities they are also interested in, as many extra-mural activities happen at the same time. Joining the Pipe Band means making a regular commitment. This is not for the fickle or the faint-hearted!
Senior Orchestra
Conductor: Mr J Pretorius
The Senor Orchestra is made up of a large strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. The group practices twice a week in the cultural time slot from 17h30 to 18h30. The orchestra plays a wide range of music, from classic to pop, as well as music that is especially composed for it. It regularly performs with other Music School ensembles, for example the choirs, rock band or pipe band. Highlights of the year are the annual tour and the Balloon Week activities in the third term, but the orchestra also performs at other events both at school and at other venues in Grahamstown.
Wind Orchestra
Conductor: Mr R van Heerden
Any woodwind or brass instrumentalist who can play with an approximate standard equivalent to ABRSM or Trinity Grade 3 is eligible to begin their probation in this group. There are also percussion posts. At various points in the first two terms, a probationers' test will be given: if the instrumentalist passes he then qualifies as a full member of the orchestra. The orchestra plays music from a variety of different styles and is part of the annual tours. It performs at numerous concerts and special occasions during the year and also regularly joins the Senior Orchestra to form a philharmonic sized orchestra. Rehearsals are every Tuesday and Thursday at 17h30 - 18h30.
Chapel Singers
Master in Charge: J Pretorius
The activities of this group are mainly focused on the enrichment and enhancement of music and singing in Chapel. This new group will play an important role in the quality of hymn singing at SAC and is representative of boys in all 6 houses. This group also acts as feeder for the Chapel Choir. The Chapel Singers practice for 45 min each week.
Sir Henry Strakosch Memorial Scholarships 201229th January 2012
To encourage and reward excellence in Science and Maths
18th January 2012
Three College boys travelled to Kampalato to join this amazing experience.
