On Tuesday 19 August, Cannons Creek Independent School Grade 1-3 Orff ensemble groups participated in the Tygerberg International Eisteddfod. The adjudication was held at school, where the adjudicator, Thea Lamprecht was welcomed. The school was ecstatic to have achieved Honours (80-89%) for all four items performed. “We are so incredibly proud of your hard work, beautiful music, and the joy you brought to the stage. Well done!” – Ms Levitt (Head of Primary School Music).

. Rayin Govan (Grade 2) caught in action during the Grade 2 group’s performance of ‘Soldier’s March’.

Grade 2 pupils Charlotte Samuels and Kira Hemp during their performance of ‘Ding, dong, diggi diggi dong’ which was an own choice piece, and one by Carl Orff himself.

The adjudicator applauded our two Music teachers and acknowledged that she could see they were working hard on learners’ technique. She thanked the staff, Principal, and parents for the support given to the pupils. Lamprecht commented, “I saw it in all four of the items – excellent staging; the way you walked up the stage, and the way you walked down, and the way you looked at the teacher, and you followed her instructions, and your behaviour on stage… well, it was fantastic. And for all the items. These learners are only Grade 1 to 3 and did very well today for their age. Many skills, too many to mention now, were demonstrated in playing these instruments. Very well done to the teachers and to all of you who mastered all of them.”

Grade 3 pupils Ada Irvine and Lea Dorasamy during their performance of the ‘Penguin Waddle’, a prescribed piece

The adjudicator commented that she always emphasised (over her nine years’ adjudicating this category) that it’s not all about the mark. She said the journey was more important, “especially in this category of music-making. It’s about the process, the skills that we learn, the things that these children learned while they studied for this performance, and all of that is priceless. And then also how they’re contributing to the group of them with everything else. There’s no marks for that. It’s a great feeling to see you playing so well, and you can be so proud of yourself. Go on and make much more music for the rest of your life. Thank you.”

The Grade 1-3 Orff combined Orff ensembles who all received Honours for the Orff Eisteddfod