Flemish minister visits field band in South Africa
Joke Schauvlieghe, who is the Flemish Minister of environment, nature and culture was an invite to the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban South Africa. On this occasion she also visited the Alexandra Field Band in the township Alexandra in Johannesburg.
She was welcomed in typical field band style by a welcome concert (the band "blew her away" she said). Andes Doubell, the regional coordinator of the Field Band Foundation informed her about the partnership that Vlamo (the Flemish amateur music association) has with the Field Band Foundation, made possible by a funding of the Flemish Department of Culture. Andes pointed out the crucial knowledge transfer in marching percussion and show design which made that the Field Band Foundation was selected to participate in the opening and closing ceremonie of the FIFA World Cup 2010.
One of topics that was thoroughly discussed was the Field Band Academy. This NQF validated institute will offer a continuous training of field band teachers and the relation with Vlamo experts is crucial in its start-up phase. Thulani Dupa and Bennet Nkosi, two successful graduates of the Field Band Academy told that the Academy has helped them to make better rehearsal planning, improve teaching and improve show design. (Text: Geert Vanmaeckelberghe)
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