A passionate Bloemfontein musician is on a mission to nurture prospective future musicians.
Ebenezer Mojatau mentors youngsters residing in Phase 6, one of the new residential settlements in Bloemfontein.
Mojatau founded the Ebenezer Mojatau Recorder Ensemble mid-2017, with the sole purpose to develop and mentor prodigies.
He utilises a classroom at the Tjhebelopele Primary School for classes to help young musicians realise their potential.
“The chief objective was to create a platform for youngsters in the underresourced new residential settlement of Phase 6,” said Mojatau.
“I started this initiative after analysing programmes needed to advance development in the area. The demand is huge for human development and I decided on the youth.
“As a musician, I decided on a music project to recruit and mentor youngsters. This is an ideal project to invest my time in and impart my music knowledge as part of community development.”
He said permission by the school’s management to use one classroom had helped to boost the facilitation of the project.
“I’m appreciative of the gesture by school’s management to accommodate us from the onset. The venue is ideal for practice sessions.”
Presently he has under his wing eight youngsters, aged between eight and ten. Most of them reside in the area. Some of the youngsters attend Tjhebelopele and others attend other schools in Bloemfontein.
Practice sessions are presented from Mondays to Fridays.
Mojatau’s musical skills include playing trombone and recorder.
He has introduced the youngsters to masterfully playing the recorder as the starting point of the long-term music programme.
Mojatau said the new breed of musicians were adapting well, having already featured in music development programmes last year.
“They did exceptional and received recognition, showing significant improvement,” he said.
Last year the group was featured in the Grey College festival, staged annually at the school.
Mojatau’s ensemble group has been invited to feature in this year’s music festival of the St Michael’s School for Girls’, held from 7 to 18 May in Bloemfontein.
He said the project gave his group exposure to networking and inspired them to bridge the creative divide in impoverished areas.
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