Competition to search for proposed music school students kicks off

THE national competition to pick the best students to join the proposed school of music in Nyundo, Rubavu District, officially began last Saturday in Karongi District.Jacques Muligande, aka Mighty Popo, the school’s music director said that each district will be represented by 8 candidates in the national competition. The Workforce Development Authority (WDA) sponsored search will be crowned with a selection of the best four candidates from each district at a grand finale slated for December 21 at Petit Stade. At the end of the competition at least 36 students are expected to start training in different music categories by January next year.Criteria for selecting the best students according to Muligande, will be based on one’s talent in singing, knowledge on some cultural/modern musical instruments, passion and having completed the 9 year basic education among others.WDA has engaged local music experts to be judges during the competition.Ecole d’art de Nyundo, a renowned art school located in Rubavu District (Western Province), has been under renovation. This follows the government’s initiative through WDA to earmark Rwf500m for the promotion and professionalisation of the art industry in Rwanda.WDA has also partnered with local artistes like Riderman and Knowles in an intensive campaign to market Technical and Vocation Education Training (TVET) in a bid to demonstrate that music is a good profession like any other professions.WDA has also started collaborating with International music experts in curriculum development, purchasing modern training equipment, setting entrance requirements and management of the music training centre. One of them is Dr. Thomas Salter from Scotland. Salter has worked for 20 years as a professional musician and owns a musical band ‘the Peatbog Faeries’ one of Scotland’s best known names in contemporary folk music.According to the Director General of WDA Jerome Gasana, the future plan is to expand the school with many options in music for potential singers, managers, producers and other careers for a formal music industry Nyundo Art School currently has 220 students, training in wood sculpture, ceramics and graphic design.

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Competition to search for proposed music school students kicks off