Mookodi Music Foundation was honoured to be involved in the MANSH International Music Festival/Competition held at the Afriforum Theatre in Pretoria from 15 to 19 January 2025. MMF sponsored the prize money for the vocal category and the first prize of the piano category. Prof. Bo Rosenkull from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden presented master classes to 10 singers in the vocal category. All the singers were accompanied by the wonderful Paul Ferreira.
Prof. Albert Mamriev and Prof. Lezanti van Sittert from the Neue Sterne Musik Akademie in Hannover presented master classes in piano.
All the participants in both categories received masterclasses and participated in concerts before participating in the competition. The gala concert took place on Sunday, 19 January 2025, during which the prize winners were announced. Each participant received a certificate of participation and the prize winners received monetary incentives.
One of the participants described his involvement in this event as follows:
The most valuable and special moments was the level o coaching and expertise I received from both Prof. Bo Rosenkull and Prof. Santisa Viljoen. The technical skills and lessons shared were of a high calibre. A special moment I noticed was also the camaraderie and unity amongst all participants, which reflects the positive energy of the Mansh initiative at large from higher management, stakeholders and all participants. It has been a valuable and unforgettable experience. Toi Toi!
Another confessed to having learned a lot, including helpful strategies to use when singing in the higher registers of his voice. He learned to appreciate the need to singwithout unhealthy tension in his neck and found tension-free singing to be less tiring.without unhealthy tension in his neck and found tension-free singing to be less tiring.
Piano Category Winner:
Ying-Shan Tseng (student of Mr José Dias)
Vocal Category Winners:
First prize: Lebogang Polori (mezzo soprano; North-West University alumna and former student of Prof. Santisa Viljoen)
Second prize: Thando Mabuza (soprano from North-West University and student of Dr Antoinette Olivier)
Third prize: Rethabile Khaile (mezzo soprano from North-West University and student of Prof. Conroy Cupido)
Paul Ferreira 3 (vocal accompanist for all singers)
Prof. Albert Mamriev and Prof. Bo Rosenkull with the prize winners in the
Vocal Category
Daniel Pheeha (baritone from North-West University – student of Mr Thomas
Erlank)
Marieta van der Walt (soprano from the University of Pretoria; student of Prof.
Hanli Stapela)
Gomotsang Mokoto (mezzo soprano baritone from North-West University;
student of Ms Thembinkosi Magagula)
Kwanda Mthethwa (tenor from North-West University; student of Ms
Thembinkosi Magagula)
Annemarie van der Westhuizen (soprano from Potchefstroom Gimnasium;
student of Mr André Oosthuizen)
Ying-Shan Tseng (soprano from the Stellenbosch University; student of Ms
Lauren da Sappa)
Brett Hannay (baritone from the University of Pretoria; student of Prof. Hanli Stapela)
Photo credit: Lizette van Rooyen
Mookodi Music Foundation is extremely proud of Lebogang Polori (mezzo-soprano) who is the overall winner in the solo category of the 8th Meloding ya Tshwane Choral Association. MMF is proud to support such talented artists!
Lebogang Polori
Congratulations to Lillian van Staden, the recipient of the 2024 Mookodi Music Foundation bursary. This bursary will contribute to Lillian’s registration fee for music studies at the School of Music of the North-West University in 2025. She achieved excellent results in her first year of music studies and enjoys the respect of her lecturers and her peers. She represents the vision and mission, as well as the ethos of the NWU and of MMF. Well done Lillian!
Prof. Santisa Viljoen & Lillian van Staden
Thank you to Adamo Chamber Choir and their director, Hannelie van Sittert, for a wonderful concert in the beautiful Nazareth House Chapel in Pretoria on 13 October 2024. Thank you to our Mookodi ambassadors (Vinchesco Theys, Julian Reinecke-Watson, Khulekani Mncwango, Thando Mabuza and Lebogang Polori) for paying back. @ Paul Fereirra (pianist): you are brilliant! We are so appreciative for all the support that Mookodi gets!
Prof. Santisa Viljoen (Mookodi Music Foundation) & Hannelie van Sittert
(Director of Adamo Chamber Choir)
Hannelie van Sittert and the Adamo Chamber Choir
Paul Ferreira
Mookodi Music Foundation Ambassadors (Brass Trio)
Lebogang Polori
Thando Mabuza
Mookodi Music Foundation is extremely appreciative of the North-West Youth Orchestra's generous donation. The orchestra donated the proceeds of their Spring Concert, held on 13 September 2024, to MMF. Thank you to the conductors (Prof. Liesl van der Merwe and Mr Andre Oosthuizen) and the orchestra's committee for their support!
Conductors of the NWYO – Mr André Oosthuizen and Prof. Liesl van der Merwe
North-West Youth Orchestra
KHULEKANI MNCWANGO, VINCHESCO THEYS, AND JULIAN REINECKE-WATSON
Mookodi Music Foundation is very proud of Khulekani Mncwango, Vinchesco Theys and Julian Reinecke-Watson, students at of the NWU School of Music. These young brass players were chosen to be members of the prestigious Africa United Youth Orchestra (AUYO).
The orchestra recently visited New York City, where they participated in the World Orchestra Week. This event culminated in a performance at the renowned Carnegie Hall.
AUYO also participated in a mass orchestra event, featuring hundreds of festival participants from seven youth orchestras around the globe, conducted by the celebrated Gustavo Dudamel.
LEBOGANG POLORI (MEZZO-SOPRANO)
Lebogang Polori is one of the 10 finalists in the open category of the Tshwane Choral Music Association’s Soli Competition. It is Mookodi Music Foundation’s privilege to support this young artist. We will be routing for her in the final round of the competition on 30 November 2024.
Video Credit: Johannesburg Opera
Pianist: Maryke Johnson
THANDO MABUZA (SOPRANO)
Congratulations to Thando Mabuza, who obtained the second prize in the vocal category for Western art music at the Fine Music Radio Bursary Trust Awards. This national competition took place at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. Thando is a third-year student at the NWU School of Music, under the tutelage of Dr Antoinette Olivier. Mookodi Music Foundation was privileged to support this young soprano.
Pianist: Waldo Weyer
Mookodi Music Foundation was officially launched on 6 June 2024.
Photo Credit: Thomas Erlank
SPAR Baillie Park and SPAR Vyfhoek kindly contributed to the donation of non-perishable food that Mookodi Music Foundation made to the NWU’s food bank.
Photo Credit: Thomas Erlank
Jan, Ben, and Isabell Kuger from Spar, Bailliepark with Santisa Viljoen
Prof Conroy Cupido (Director School of Music), Santisa Vijoen and music students of the NWU School of Music
Santisa Viljoen, and Albert Brits of Spar Vyfhoek
