Hout Bay music and creative
Llundadno Primary School singing teacher Lisha Herbst with singing pupils at the Cape Town Eisteddfod.
Image: Supplied
Hout Bay and Llandudno music pupils received top honours at the Cape Town Eisteddfod, a prestigious annual art and culture festival.
At the eisteddfod held in Pinelands on Saturday, September 20, Hout Bay Music School pupil Sofia Moriz, 12 (piano), and Llandudno Primary School pupil Sabella Van Riel, 10 (clarinet), were awarded diploma degrees, the highest level grading, with scores between 90 and 100. Other high honours went to Hout Bay Music School pupils Eilee West, 13, and Pauline Desvernay, 16; Llandudno Primary School drummers Ben Landman (Grade 6), Callum Sayer (Grade 4), and Nash Thompson (Grade 1), who scored between 85 and 89.
The eisteddfod was established in Cape Town in 1903, when the Welsh choirs visited Cape Town and the concept was adopted, receiving up to 2 000 entries. The annual art and culture festival takes place during August and September at multiple venues.
Special awards are being worked out for art, creative writing, as well as music, and a prize giving is planned for Saturday, October 25.
Sofia Moriz, 12, receives a Diploma grade at the Cape Town Music Eisteddfod.
Image: Supplied
Singer and songwriter Ike Moriz, owner of Hout Bay Music, and father of Sofia, said he was proud of the girls' achievements, considering it was their first eisteddfod.
Sofia told Sentinel News that she had been hard at work with her teacher Vuyo Nkasawe for two months before her presentation.
"I am grateful and happy with the acknowledgement.
"My next challenge is to be graded (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM standards) next year," she said.
The ABRSM is a global music education charity and examination board based in the United Kingdom.
Llandudno Primary School pupils on the violin Tayla van Riel, on the saxophone Caleb Nordien, on the clarinet Sabella van Riel and on flute Thomas Bunyard.
Image: Supplied
Mr Moriz said the girls were quite nervous and found the experience daunting but exhilarating.
"Next year we may participate in different categories and instruments, whether it is guitar, bass, or vocals," he said.
Sabella also received honours for her piano performance and merit recognition for her singing. She attends Llandudno Primary School, where she also attends additional music lessons.
Her mother, Melissa, said as a parent, this is a great achievement for Sabella.
"It was a great experience and opportunity to play her instruments and showcase her talent," she said.
Ms Van Riel said feedback from the adjudicator was constructive and clear in understanding the students' challenges and how they could improve.
"It was an incredible learning experience for the students," she said.
Llandudno Primary School head of music Michelle Pearce said she was very proud of the pupils' achievement.
"They all worked really hard," she said.
Ms Pearce also commended all the pupils who were graded, including the marimba pupils, who received honours, at 85 percent.
Vanessa Brink, eisteddfod music convenor and chairwoman of the music, art, and creative writing sections, said the festival allowed entrants an opportunity to perform in public.
"This showcases their talent and shares their creativity with entrants from other schools," she said.
Ms Brink explained that each entrant received a written report and a certificate.
Prize winners of certain sections were awarded with medals and cash, which would be presented at the prize giving.
The Cape Town Eisteddfod uses the Red Dragon as their emblem in honour of Wales.
The 122-year-old eisteddfod is run by a small committee that is passionate about keeping the arts alive in Cape Town. For more information, visit www.capetowneisteddfod.co.za