Award-winning SA musicians Mlungisi Gegana and Adam Glasser, who is UK-based, are set to collaborate in a performance at East London’s House 87 on Sunday to raise funds for the Mlungisi Music Academy.
The event forms part of Glasser’s Concerts SA Tour.
The internationally renowned jazz artist is an award-winning SA pianist and harmonica virtuoso.
The Komani-based academy’s goal is to develop young musicians in the Eastern Cape.
Gegana expressed excitement about the upcoming performance, and that all the proceeds would go to the academy, which faced financial constraints.
“I feel over the moon for the upcoming performance because all the funds raised will go towards the Mlungisi Music Academy’s programmes that focus on the development of music, especially for the youth,” he said.
“The funds that will be raised will assist in purchasing stationery, manuscripts and pay rent for the premises we are using.
“The money will also help in organising transport for the children as some of them live far from the academy.
“We are also aiming to cater for food for them as some leave their homes on empty stomachs.”
Gegana said he had to do fundraising to keep the academy going because many of the children who were keen to attend came from underprivileged homes.
“We are dealing with people who come from underprivileged families and as much as we have a fee of R150 per month, most of them cannot afford to pay that amount.
“They are struggling to pay the fee because some are living with their grandparents who depend on social grants.”
He said youngsters who could not afford to pay the fee were still welcome to attend the academy.
“The other beautiful thing is that we have teachers who are volunteering to teach the children, so that saves us a lot, even though in the future we would like to pay them salaries for the great job they are doing.”
House 87 owner Thandulwazi Thomas said the fundraising event formed part of the establishment’s House of Legends initiative that was aimed at honouring SA legends.
Thomas said hosting an international artist, who inspired during the apartheid era, would be a first for House 87.
“This year, the restaurant also hosted South African pianist Andile Yenana, Abbey ‘Kruga’ Maqula and other jazz artists.
“This time we will be hosting Adam Glasser, Mlungisi Gegana, East London vocalist Siphokazi Ngxokolo-Bili and drummer Geoff Lottering.”
He said he was thrilled that the proceeds would go towards assisting the Mlungisi Music Academy.
“This is inspiring for us and brings an opportunity to grow in our space and not just for us, but for the Eastern Cape as a whole.
“I also feel great that we are doing this because Eastern Cape legends are not honoured and acknowledged enough for the work they have done for the music industry,” Thomas said.
Tickets for the event, at R150, are available at Computicket.
Daily Dispatch
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