Turffontein Race Course came alive with spectacular colour and music as thousands of youngsters gathered for the Field Band Foundation’s championships on September 28 and 29.

Considering that the De Beers Musina Field Band was launched only four months ago, they did extremely well by coming second in the First Division Championships. This is a great achievement as they competed against long-established field bands.

Not only were they overall second runners-up but also won a trophy as second runnersup in the mixed assembly for trumpets and percussion. This certainly is a feather in the cap for their dedicated coordinator, Veronica Mkombezekwa, and the tutors. Ivan Kwatlande is the tutor for trumpets and percussion, Mashudu Mokgotsie for marimba and steel drums and Winstone Covane coaches the dancers. Band members are from schools around Musina.

Sixteen field bands from all over the country competed for honours in the championships. They came from far-flung areas such as Phokeng, Kimberley, Witbank, Port Elizabeth, East London, Stellenbosch, Durban, Springs, Daveyton, Cullinan Alexandra, Soweto, and closer to home, Blouberg in Limpopo, Musina, and Polokwane.

Overall winners in the Premier League were the PG Bison Buccanneers Field Band from Durban, in second place the De Beers Superstone Field Band from Kimberley and the Mdantsane Field Band from East London in third place.

In the First Division for junior bands, the winners were the Ekapa De Beers Field Band from Kimberly, in second place the De Beers Musina Field Band from Musina in Limpopo and in third place the Stocks Anglo Field Band from Bafokeng in North West.

De Beers, primary supporter of the FBF, sponsors five field bands. (Article by Ina Barkhuysen)