Concert Review: Releasing the artist inside

The following is an excerpt from an article published on the Feb. 19th issue of the Constantia Bulletin. It was written by Inga Strydom. Thank you Inga for covering our Beautiful Schools for Africa Concert and School Tour, for all your support in helping us spread our message.

It was a beautiful benefit indeed. So beautiful in fact, that it moved the audience to hold hands, sing and dance together. Two days of intense artistic interaction with 4,000 pupils from six schools culminated in the Beautiful Schools for Africa Benefit Concert held at the Novalis Ubuntu Institute of Holistic Education in Wynberg on Sunday.

Before the actual concert, "spontaneous cellist" and musician Francois le Roux (also known as the Ha! Man) spent two days performing at Ottery Road Methodist, Kannemeyer, Sid G Rule, Bongolethu, Mzamomble and Entshona primary schools where art and music do not play an integral role in the schools' curricula.

Mr. le Roux said the performances were very interactive and focused on the students' innate musicality. "They could just express themselves. What I try to release or reveal is in that in each of us there is an artist that expresses beautifully. As an artist, you need to experience all sides of the spectrum. It's between these polarities that you can truly create music that brings us together from all spheres of life."

The concert also featured a silent auction which was held in the foyer where holistic books and CDs mainly by Natalia Baker were on sale as well as paintings. To support, join or donate to the Novalis Ubuntu Institute visit www.novalis.org.za

Want to see pictures of the concert and schools tour? View the Photo Gallery.