The Safaricom Youth Orchestra marked the end of term one classes, in a virtual ceremony on Saturday August 8, 2020 with a rendition of the song “You Raise Me Up” originally composed by Norwegian-Irish duo ‘Secret Garden’.
Over the last 15 weeks, the students have taken to digital learning, thanks to Safaricom who handed over 4G enabled mobile devices to over 80 students to give them access to orchestral music instructions from their homes guided by some of Kenya’s finest musicians and music directors.
(TOP: Ritika Jain, a graduate of the Safaricom Youth Orchestra during its sixth graduation ceremony that saw thirty students graduating in a virtual ceremony. Ritika Jain plays the Violin).
“It has not been an easy ride, having in mind that the online musical classes are the first of its kind in Kenya. I would like to thank the students for rising to the challenges to produce amazing work, “said Elizabeth Njoroge, Director Art of Music Foundation.
The Orchestra’s annual calendar is divided into three terms, with the first one running from May to July, followed by August to December and finally January to April when the students who have completed high school graduate. At this time, the Orchestra carries out auditions where the most outstanding participants are selected to join the Safaricom Youth Orchestra.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the orchestra’s annual calendar, postponing the Graduation ceremony from April to June.
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