Sandvik Music Centre opens at ZAM

The Sandvik Music Centre at the Zimbabwe Academy of Music opened this week. Supported by a generous grant from Sandvik,  and with further support from BZAM,  the performance space will be used the Academy’s Marimba students,  and as an extra stage for ZAM choirs and ensembles.   ‘The traditional roundel gives our Marimba students a fine new platform for performance’ says Academy Director Michael Bullivant.  ‘It has been in the planning for some years – and its opening represents an exciting step forward for the Academy.   Pictured (top) Saturday School Brass Group,  (middle) ZAM Director Michael Bullibant (left) introduces Sandvik’s Ian Bagshaw, (bottom) The Sigombe Marimba Ensemble

 

 

BZAM supports new marimba centre

Work continues this week on ZAM’s new Marimba Centre,  being built by Bulawayo craftsmen in the grounds of the Academy. Two years ago,  with generous support from donor John Booth,  BZAM was able to help the Academy commission a new set of Marimbas made by local instrument builders,  as well as repairing an existing set.  Now the instruments are to get a purpose built home in a traditional rondel,  where students will be taught and will be able to practice.  The building has been funded thanks to a generous grant from Sandvik,  the Swedish mining and manufacturing company.  Photos by Bruce MacDonald.

The roof goes on …

Thatchers at work

Under Construction – ZAM’s new Marimba Centre

Come and hear Zimbabwe Academy of Music students perform

End of term at ZAM is marked with a concert on Wednesday March 25th at 5.15pm in the Robert Sibson Hall

Academy students took part in the Eisteddfod last week and did very well with several achieving Class 1+ or Honours and they will be taking part, as will members of the Saturday School and guests from Eastview School.

The concert will last about an hour and should prove entertaining and enjoyable so please support our young musicians!

ZAM’s Bulawayo Schools Music Project Saturday School is supported by BZAM and The British Council

Christmas Celebration as 1700 turn out to hear 330 Academy Students ..

More than 1700 people brought candles to the Amphitheatre in Bulawayo’s Centenary Park on Tuesday night to join over 330 Zimbabwe Academy of Music students celebrating Christmas. The students, drawn from schools across Bulawayo, sang carols, their own arrangements of Christmas music old and new, and staged a musical Nativity play. The majority of the performers were participants in the Bulawayo Schools Music Project, which is funded by the British Council and supporters of BZAM – British Friend’s of the Zimbabwe Academy of Music.

Members of the Bulawayo Salvation Army Band, Academy Brass, and the Marimba ensemble Rainbow Blaze joined in the spectacular evening, BSMP’s biggest community project yet.

The view from the stage

A Bulawayo Nativity scene …

More of the Nativity …