Travelling is learning

Hemel Hempstead School in the UK have begun singing with the Mgezwa JSS School choir in South Africa in five separate concerts over two weeks in June and July.

Hemel Hempstead School have raised around £10,000 to help the 13 strong Mgezwa choir make the 6,000 mile journey to the UK for these events.

In an amazing experience for the group of teenage singers who are all 14 or 15 and have never travelled outside of their own town of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape before.

Megan Botha who has helped organise this coming together of cultures said: “The pupils from South Africa are fantastic, they live life with such enthusiasm and we get a great deal from our visits. For our students, South Africa seems more tangible to them because they are interacting with real people from the country. And for us teacher’s we are reminded how much more to life there is when our two world’s come together.”

Arriving for the first time on Tuesday 26 June, Mgezwa Choir had just three days to practice with the Hemel Hampstead School choir and be ready to perform at Hemel Hempstead’s summer concert on 29 June.

The visit of Mgezwa JSS School choir should also be one to remember for Hemel Hempstead School sixth form student Tom Durrant.

The young musician has composed a new piece of music called “Ukuhamba Kukufunda” (Travelling is learning) which both choirs will perform together for the first time as part of another concert on 4July.

Travelling is learning includes lyrics in both English and Xhosa which is the first language of the Mgezwa learners, although all their lessons are taught in English.

Director of Music Debbie Bailey said of the piece: “It’s absolutely perfect, the composition grows and builds until both choirs sing together for the climax.”

On being asked to compose the piece Tom said: “I was really scared at first, but a massive privilege. The whole process has taught me the value and impact music has on everyone.

The concerts are also a big moment for Tom because of where his song will be performed, Tom added: “The school has played one of my songs before in a concert but nothing as public as this. This is a real venue and anyone can come along.”

The performance of ‘Travelling is learning’ will take place at Watford Boys School on 4July.