YONA
Youth Orchestras Of Namibia
Project coordinator: Ms Gretel Coetzee (Director)
NATIONAL YOUTH STRINGS FESTIVAL:
Young musicians from all over Namibia gathered in Windhoek for one week to rehearse together. The concert showcased the results of their collaboration on Friday, 15 July 2022 at the National Theatre of Namibia.
Youth Orchestras of Namibia (YONA) is inspired by the El Sistema movement (which has been activating social change through music since 1975).
Youth Orchestras of Namibia (YONA) is a movement with the vision to transform the lives of youth through music. YONA’s mission is to provide an intensive music program that develops a sense of belonging, teaches the importance of teamwork and a strong work ethic, and promotes self-confidence and good citizenship. The overarching principle is to advance children first and music second.
The backbone of the program involves various orchestras for youth, from early childhood through to adolescence:
· Early childhood: choirs, string, percussion and recorder orchestras.
· Intermediate phase: string, woodwind and brass orchestras.
· Advanced stage: symphony orchestra.
YONA moved from Suiderhof to Windhoek-West, to bigger premises. YONA also teaches at two centres in Katutura, and the student numbers have grown quite a lot.
At the Katutura projects, there are 62 children in total who get recorder and music theory lessons, at Beautiful Kidz and Bernard Nordkamp Centre. Upon recommendation from these centres, YONA gives the children showing motivation and dedication, the opportunity to learn an orchestra instrument. There are a number of clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, cello and violin students who come from those programmes and now have lessons at the main centre. YONA covers their taxi fees, lesson fees, gives them an instrument on loan, and provides them with free food.
Sometimes the kids from Katutura go to the main centre for rehearsals and concerts, and other times the kids from the main centre go to Katutura for concerts, for instance to play at the Old Age Home.
The Gondwana Care Trust, via the MealForTwo, contributed to N$9 455.55 worth of groceries to assist the festival market.
For more information, please visit YONA's website.