The Ocean View community came alive with excitement at the inaugural Ocean View marching band festival on Wednesday 28 September.
Kleinberg Primary School principal Denzil van Graan said Ocean View was simply filled with “happy sounds.”
“The community of Ocean View was filled with the happy sounds of drums and marching bands strutting their paces at the inaugural marching band festival at the Ocean View Multi-Purpose Centre”.
He added that it was the first collaborative event between local schools.
“Participating school teams and spectators cheered each team in appreciation of the amazing talent our learners displayed.”
In May this year, the Western Cape Provincial Marching Federation (WCPMF) team was invited to Ocean View as a means to introduce a new extramural activity to learners.
“School principals and marching band committee members of Marine primary, Jupiter primary, Ukhanyo primary, Kleinberg primary and Ocean View High indicated their excitement about the opportunity to introduce a new extramural activity in their schools that is focused on self-discipline, team spirit, determination and harmony”.
After a coaching clinic in June and later a donation of drumming kits to the participating schools on Thursday 25 August, the wheels were set in motion for the marching band festival.
“Schools started in earnest to prepare their teams for our first marching band festival. The aim of the festival was to give our teams an opportunity to perform their grand march pass and exhibition in front of a crowd of spectators as well as introduce to the Ocean View community to their respective school marching bands,” said van Graan.
Cape Metro Marching Association President Roy Prinsloo expressed his appreciation for the community’s attendance and encouraged participating teams to “inculcate an ethos of discipline and determination” to excel and be strong when facing adversity.
The participating teams have also been invited to take part in the year-end festival of the marching band schools to take place on Saturday 26 November at the Athlone Stadium.
