Ngatane is set to organise orchestra workshops

’MAKERESEMESE LETUKA

MASERU – Top Lesotho vocalist, Nthakoana Ngatane, in collaboration with a German youth brass band, Jugend-Orchester Schwalmstadt, has organised music workshops for local primary and high schools.

According to Ngatane, the clinics are set to take place in October. She is organising the event through her event management company, Invest Lesotho. She said they would start with schools based in Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, and Maseru.

“We have decided to start with schools in Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, and Maseru. We are looking for schools with both primary and high schools in one yard, but if not, they should be closer to each other,” said Ngatane in an interview with Life&Style.

“One of the things we hope to achieve with this initiative is to see creatives recognised at schools and, in the long-term, added to the national curriculum.” Ngatane further said: “We want these children to know that there can be a career out of their musical talent and to explore their talents while on the other side still pursuing their academics.” 

This is going to be the first ever music workshop to be held by Ngatane and the Germany Orchestra for primary and high school learners in Lesotho. “This is going to be our maiden project of this kind, and we hope it will be an annual event,” she said.

Ngatane struck a partnership with the Germany Orchestra in December last year after she met and performed with it.

During its stint in Lesotho in October, the Germany orchestra will also host concerts to mark German Reunification Day and Lesotho Independence on October 3 and 4, respectively.

Ngatane said music is one of the most important industries in which many countries export music and earn taxes, adding that it begins with giving young people options and opportunities from an early age. “If I had the opportunity, I would have studied music and studied to teach music and music business.

“So the same way we invest in and give incentives to textile manufacturers, and the same way we go out to attract investors, we must also support the creative industry to develop, grow, and thrive,” she said.

Ngatane, also known as Queen Mosia, is a singer and song writer born in Lesotho. She is also a broadcast journalist, television producer, and foreign correspondent with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC.