Music academy finds new home

Kroenendal Music Academy's (KMA) students can look forward to playing their instruments in a new environment as the music school is set to move base in the second semester.

KMA is a non-profit company that provides music lessons to disadvantaged children in Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg. It will soon be moving to Bergvlei, an 11 432m2 smallholding in Hout Bay Main Road, opposite Imizamo Yethu.

Previously, Sentinel reported that a young pupil supervisor at Kroenendal Music Academy (KMA), Kama Maxesibe, took part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour earlier this month to raise funds for the school ('Music supervisor pedals for pupils at cycle tour').

After four years of searching and putting down offers on various properties in Hout Bay which didn't pan out, the music academy finally landed on Bergvlei, which KMA music director and conductor, Dwyn Griesel describes as, 'the perfect piece of land' for their projects.

When asked what inspired KMA to find a new home, Ms Griesel said: "KMA was started in 2007 in school classrooms and church halls and in 2012 we moved into our first premises which we have been renting these past 12 years.

"We got to the point where we were utilising every square inch of the house and urgently needed more space in order to grow and include more children. At the same time the fundraising landscape in South Africa and abroad has become more demanding and less focused on isolated projects."

The new building will also include a centre for TED talks, community meetings, performances, a theatre and vegetable gardens.

The music academy is still busy with renovations for their new classrooms but hope to start the second school term in the new buildings, Ms Griesel added. 

"The existing structures are very old and were quite dilapidated so we have to do a lot of renovations. Subdividing rooms and creating entrances, soundproofing, screeding floors and replacing doors and windows because they are very rotten.

"Once all of that is done we need to give the whole house a lick of paint. The garden area was also very neglected and so we have to do a lot of cleaning up and making safe for the children. Lastly our beautiful big bus needs to be able to get into the property so we have to build a new driveway and that is going to be extremely costly. We would welcome any assistance in that department," she said.

For more information or to make a contribution contact at Dwyn Griesel at director@kmahoutbay.org or call 082 331 4062.