Parktown Boys High school gets multimedia creative studio

The facility and its equipment has been funded by the Class of 1991, which has amounted to over R350 000 in financial support to build the studio.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Sometime in April I was invited to attend a function at Parktown Boys High School In Johannesburg. I was keen to attend, but because of other commitments, unfortunately I could not. That left me disappointed. There are several reasons for this, including personal reasons and the fact that the launch of a music studio at this school clearly means a lot to the school band.

Personally because my son attends the same school though he is more inclined to sports than the arts. He is more comfortable on the rugby, cricket and soccer fields than being in front of the microphone.

However when ever the school is hosting a sports day, hoisting visiting schools for rugby ,soccer or cricket, the school band is there with the sports boys, cheering them up through the beautiful music that they produce. I remember recently how the boys hosted a school from Limpopo and how the school band played a crucial role in motivating the boys to victory, defeating  the visiting school in a rugby match. The visitors were however determined, and I suspect that home advantage especially the cheering up of the boys by the whole school led by the band, played an important part in that victory.

And recently the school performed at 94.7, welcoming Grammy Award winner Black Coffee back home in style, playing his tunes. This is after the DJ had come back home after the Grammy triumph in the US.

In addition to all these roles, the school band also performs on special functions that the school hosts, especially at centenary celebrations build up events, as the school will celebrate its centenary next year. Events associated with that big event for the school are currently taking place, and it is at these events that the school band gets to perform and show what they are made up of musically.

Of course not all the participating boys in the band will pursue a career in music, but some are likely to do so. It is therefore great news for those musically inclined that a new recording studio has been launched, and the studio has been made possible by a former Parktown Boy, who has not forgotten what the school has done for him in life. He spearheaded the fundraising efforts involving the Class of 91 Matrics.

What happened is that Thursday, April 7 saw the triumphant official launch of Studio ’91 at Parktown Boys’ High School, in front of members of the media, invited guests, Parktown Boys’ Alumni and learners.

Brainchild of Nathan Waywell (Matric 1991), Studio ‘91 sees the establishing of a multimedia Creative Studio at the School.

The facility and its equipment has been funded by the Class of 1991, which has amounted to over R350 000 in financial support to build the studio, thousands more in expertise and second hand equipment donated as well as the establishment of mentorship programs for the learners going forward.

Parktown Boys’ High School has a proud cultural tradition and Studio ’91 is a welcome addition to the cultural offerings to the School.

This cutting edge hi-tech facility has an Apple Computers Creative Network and ‘Green Screen’ capability, not only to do audio and video recordings, hold interviews and set up podcasts, but also enable students to explore the areas of animation, sound design, editing and music production.

Studio ’91 will be the fulcrum of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), drama projects, which will be one of the major productions presented at the School each year, launching with Mars, The Musical in 2023, as announced at the event by Waywell.

Says Waywell; “The importance of understanding why STEM is vital is brought to life when Art manifests the future right before your eyes”.

Thus Studio ’91 is a full spectrum, school level, entertainment industry extra mural offering, so named after the class of that year who donated all the funds for its construction, and forms part of the school’s programme to ‘future proof’ the boys for the 4IR world they are entering.

With over 40 learners having already signed up in the first week alone, following the launch of Studio ’91, it is testament to the need for this creative outlet to be provided at school level as an extra-mural option.

The value of these additional facilities at the school was showcased superbly to the invited guests as Craig Hinds, lead vocalist of popular rock band Watershed (also 1990 Head Prefect of the school) performed his hit single Indigo Girl, along with the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra and Parktown Boys’ High School.