Youth Music Competition Winners get Studio Recording Opportunity

Three Western Cape students who excelled in the 'Battle of MCs', an inaugural music competition held during the Learning Cape Festival last year will be recording their music at the Red Bull South Africa studios this week as their winning prize, said Beverly Barry, chief executive officer of the Learning Cape.

The students, Rochell-Veronica Wildskut of Worcester Secondary, Tisetso Nokane of Vusisizwe High both from Worcester and Mpumelelo Ngondo of Mandlenkosi Secondary School from Beaufort West emerged as winners amongst the youth that competed in the mini-festivals' singing competitions that were held during August and September 2008.

"We wanted to give students an opportunity to know commitment to learning has its reward. The reward they are receiving is a memorable experience of working in a music studio where arts and science are merged as the music they create is engineered on a CD which they will use to promote themselves," says Barry, whose organization is passionate about promoting lifelong learning.

The Red Bull South Africa joined hands with Learning Cape offering the young learners a unique music experience to record their music over a period of three days from 14-17 January.

"Learning Cape wishes to harness and inspire youth to learn about the importance of working towards their talents and that nothing comes over night, but that through the essence of learning one can find success and a higher quality of life," says Sindy Dondolo, project manager, Learning Cape.

As part of the learning experience each student might just walk away with a recorded song, a joint song and a master copy if their performance is impressive.

"Red Bull believes that there are no winners or losers - simply a group of like-minded people who they think will interact well. The learners will make friends and learn the kind of knowledge money cannot buy. Creativity is the only currency here," said Red Bull South Africa.

MEC Cameron Dugmore for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation will be attending the second day of the recording session on Thursday 15 January.

Dondolo says as part of the winning package, students from the rural Western Cape will have a chance to have lunch with Rashied Lombard the founder and director of Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

They will also have a chance to visit the Table Mountain and the District 6 Museum among as part of educational amusement packages.

The Deputy Director General of Education, Sindy Lingela will host the students on Wednesday 14 January. The MEC Cameron Dugmore will visit them recording at Red Bull studios as part of encouraging artistry and intellectually growth.

"By letting the children brush shoulders with most the important people in the education and music industry, we are trying to open up their world and let them see that anything is achievable in life if you work at it," says Dondolo.

The students aged between 16 and 17 are in grades 10 -12 are accompanied by an education psychologist, Melvin de Klerk, who is giving them moral support.

Artists who include, Crosby a music producer, (Mike Z) P.H Fat--the MC, Teba Shumba an international musician would be working with the students for the duration of the musical experience

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For Enquiries:

Angus Flowers
Media Liaison Officer
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9800
Fax: 021 483 9521
Email: aflowers@pgwc.gov.za
Mobile: 078 530 5943

Daniel Johnson
Head Communication and Marketing
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9514
Fax: 021 483 9521
Email: dmjohnson@pgwc.gov.za
Mobile: 083 711 1407