At Grey College we have a very active cultural life and excel at it. There are numerous cultural opportunities in which learners can participate.

All in all, Grey College is much more than a great academic institution, or even a great sporting institution. It is also a place where learners get exposed to a wide array of cultural happenings thus having the opportunity to become truly well groomed young gentlemen.

Music Department:

Grey College Primary School has a lively music department, which provides every boy with the opportunity to perform wholeheartedly and to develop in many spheres of life.

Choirs:

We currently have two choirs, namely the Senior Choir (Grade 4 – 7) and the Junior Choir (Grade 1, 2,3).

The Senior Choir consists of approximately 90 boys who perform on a regular basis. In 1994, under guidance of Ms Annalisa Swart, the Senior Choir produced and recorded a CD. Our repertoire consists mainly of light choir pieces with an endeavour to incorporate music from different cultures.

While the Junior Choir does not sing in harmonic voices, they learn songs in a variety of languages. The choir not only enhances the love for singing, but also forms an integral part of each child’s educational balance. Auditions are held for boys interested in becoming choir members.

Bands:

Symphonic Brass Band:

This band consists of a full brass- and woodwind section along with percussion players. Instruments include: flutes, clarinets, soprano-, alto- and tenor saxophones, trumpets, E Flat horns, trombones, tubas, an electric bass guitar and a drum kit. Band members receive individual tuition for their instrument at school. Boys are allowed to participate in the band as soon as they can produce a pure tone (no age restriction). The band is involved in accompanying the school choir and is often invited to perform at school-, sport- and cultural functions. The band also accompanies singing during Assembly in the hall. Beginners who are not yet ready to join the Senior Band are accommodated in the Junior Band until such time.

Boere Band

The Grey College Boere Band is unique and consists of genuine, traditional instruments such as the concertina, accordion, harmonicas, guitars, banjos and a drum kit. This band is very popular and is invited regularly to perform items at various functions, including weddings, birthday parties, year-end functions, Departmental and International functions, Free State Parliamentary Openings, Ladies’ Morning with Sonja Heroldt, Old-Age Homes and Nursing Homes. They have performed on TV in productions such as “Dis Hoe Dit Is...Met Steve” (2007) as well as “Kom ‘n Bietjie Binne” with Dozi (2007). Grey College Secondary’s Boere Band also represented South Africa on a tour to the Czech Republic in April 2007.

The Boere Band released their first CD on the 150-year Anniversary of Grey College. This CD, as well as the CD released by the Primary School Boere Band in 2008, is available at both schools’ receptions or through Mrs. Santjie Louw. Over the past 5 years, the Primary School Boere Band has won Gold Medals in the Boeremusiekgilde’s National Competition. In 2007, they won the following Awards: Best Primary School Boere Band, Best Concertina Player and Best Training Coach in the Schools Division. The Primary School Boere Band is currently busy producing a CD, which they expect to be released in June 2008. With the addition of a violin, this band truly has a unique sound.

Staff Band

This band consists of staff members (the school headmaster has yet to pass his audition!) who are actively involved in making music and who enjoy playing together for the fun of it. Any possible instrument is incorporated to make the end product more interesting!

Guitar Ensemble

The guitar ensemble group consists of pupils who receive tuition at the school in classical- as well as lead-guitar. There is a beginner- as well as an intermediate group; both of which mainly play light music. Pupils of any age, from Grade 1 to Grade 7, can become part of these groups.

String Orchestra

The String Orchestra forms an integral part in the boys’ musical training, as well as in personality development. Boys are trained in leadership, loyalty, responsibility and self-discipline in order to prepare them to become leaders themselves one day. The String Orchestra consists of 40 members (Grade 1 to Grade 7) and performs regularly at various functions and fundraisers. The Odeion String Quartet of the University of the Free State makes valuable contributions toward the boys’ musical skill development. Projects in 2007 include performances with the Bloemfontein Mannekoor (with André Schwartz) in the Odeion as well as a Christmas Concert at “Lebona Land” (a home for AIDS orphans). Weekend camps are held regularly where the boys’ technical skills are fine-tuned. Amongst others, professional musicians, such as Johan Grobbelaar (violinist) and Michael Haller (UFS cellist), are invited to evaluate and train the boys on these camps.

Individual Tuition:

Individual tuition is given in the following:

Piano (UNISA, Royal Schools and Trinity)

Recorder: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Recorder

Keyboard

Classical Guitar/ Rhythm Guitar/ Bass Guitar

Violin and Alto Violin, Cello and Contra Bass

Music Theory (Unisa Grade 1 to 4)

Accordion

Concertina

Harmonica

Banjo

Brass Instruments

Woodwind Instruments

 You name it, we teach it!

 Instrument Hire:

Various instruments, when available, can be hired through the school at very reasonable tariffs.

Music Staff:

Ms: Maryn Fourie, Santjie Louw, Surita Swanepoel.

Violin: Ms Minerva van Zyl

Cello: Ms Zanelle Britz

Guitar: Mr. Theoniel de Bruyn, Ms Maryn Fourie, Ms Nici van Wyk, Mr. Floris Danhauser

Flute: Ms Eleanore Wille

Saxophone and Clarinet: Ms Nici van Wyk

Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba: Mr. Braam van Tonder

Concertina: Mr. Dawid Fourie

Banjo: Mr. Anton Greeff

Harmonica: Mr. Johan Oosthuysen

Recorder, Accordion, Keyboard: Ms Santjie Louw

Achievements:

Bloemfontein Children’s Choir:

The following boys were part of this world-renowned choir:

Lohan Makaum, Christopher and Georgio Grivas, Shaun Mattig, Paul Loeb van Zuilenburg, Naledi Mohapi, Molemo Mlamleli, Jan Venter, Wim and Adam-John Boshoff and Kelvin Botha.

Sanlam Competition:

The violinist, Paul Loeb van Zuilenburg (Grade 5) and celloist, Chris van Zyl (Grade 4) achieved second round in the competition.

 Ludin de Lange (Grade 7) accomplished the following excellent achievements:

National Art Trust Competition: Achieved second round in Piano

Passed UNISA Piano Grade 5 with 90% and Cello Grade 4 with 80%

Placed on UNISA’s Honour Roll

 Ms Santjie Louw was awarded the “FAK-MJ Thom” Teaching Bursary for excellent service in Afrikaans teaching. She also received an award from the Boeremusiekgilde Noordstreek for her contribution to and promotion of Boeremusiek amongst the youth, especially with regard to Youth Orchestras.