This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
On Saturday, the Safaricom Youth Orchestra celebrated its 6th graduation with a virtual ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the program.
Among the graduates were 12 students from Ghetto Classics, who demonstrated their passion and love for music by mastering various instruments, including the Flute, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, and violin.
"I am thrilled to see how far we have come over the years," said Elizabeth Njoroge, Director Art of Music Foundation. "Some of the students who are graduating have been with the orchestra since its inception. The Safaricom Youth Orchestra imparts all-round growth in music and life skills; and seeing the graduates achieve this is a testament to the dedication of both the tutors and students."
However, the celebration was bittersweet, as the orchestra's late founder, Bob Collymore, was not able to attend the ceremony. Despite this, the graduates and their families found solace in knowing that they were realizing his dream.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the graduation ceremony was postponed from April to June. To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, Safaricom handed over 4G-enabled mobile devices to over 80 students, allowing them to access orchestral music instructions from home, guided by some of Kenya's finest musicians and music directors.
"Congratulations to the class of 2020 for showing commitment towards their passion for music which has earned them this graduation," said Peter Ndegwa, Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom. "At Safaricom, we understand the fundamental role which music plays in our daily lives and it is our promise that we shall continue to support the lives of the young people with initiatives such as the Safaricom Youth Orchestra."
