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Music Crossroads Academy nurtures music supremos

Life & Style
Music Crossroads board chairperson Alex Farai Majachani said the graduation was for students who completed their studies in 2019 and 2020 via virtual learning in response to the COVID-19-induced lockdowns.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO/TENDAI SAUTA

IT was a joyous celebration as 81 music supremos graduated with certificates and diplomas in Professional Music and Audio Engineering from the Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe on Friday at University of Zimbabwe’s Beit Hall in Harare.

Music Crossroads board chairperson Alex Farai Majachani said the graduation was for students who completed their studies in 2019 and 2020 via virtual learning in response to the COVID-19-induced lockdowns.

“This graduation is a mark of growth as we nurtured and equipped the creative sector drivers and leaders over the years and we are confident that we are releasing you to the world to make a positive impact,” he said.

Majachani, who was recently appointed National Arts Council board member, urged the graduands to stand tall with integrity and be impeccable in character to maintain professional standards.

He expressed concern over the abuse of creative work, and urged stakeholders to work together to preserve intellectual property in order to get maximum returns from their creative work.

In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, Music Crossroads Zimbabwe director Melody Zambuko said the academy was offering an exceptional package to creatives.

“There is something happening at the Music Crossroads Academy, which is not found anywhere else. Our curriculum is highly inclusive and consists of innovativeness, parity, contextuality and global connectivity,” she said.

“The Music Crossroads Academy course offer is exactly what the industry needs. This is validated by the high numbers of seasoned musicians that enrol with the academy such as Caroleen Nqobile Masawi (Afro-fusion singer/songwriter, guitarist and voice-over artist) popularly known as Masa, who graduated with a Certificate in Professional Music, and also among the graduates was musician Ammi Jamanda, who also graduated with a Certificate in Professional Music.”

Zambuko added: “The directors of ceremonies (veteran gospel singer Pastor Stanley Gwanzura and television personality Masceline Bondamakara-Murape) are both students of the Music Crossroads Academy. While they are seasoned musicians of note, they have realised that the academy offered something that they have not acquired in their many years of experience and it is only at the academy where they can be made a complete product.”

The guest speaker at the event, Ngonidzashe Muonwa, the chairman of the department of Creative Media and Communication at the University of Zimbabwe, commended the work being done by Music Crossroads.

“We are excited with the partnership between University of Zimbabwe and Colleges in Arts Education to further enhance knowledge and technical artisanship. The University of Zimbabwe is willing to incorporate some of the students into the Arts Education degrees,” he said.

Renowned music producer Bothwell Nyamhondera, who conferred the sound engineering students with their certificates, said: “The new team of sound engineers should lead by example through laying groundwork for music publishing houses. Publishing houses protect musicians from piracy and they provide extensive sales across the globe, making artistes United States-dollar richer.”

The academy also conferred a couple of individuals and industry players with a “Friends of the Academy” prestigious certificate for their continuous and relentless support of the academy.

Among those awarded were Jibilika Dance Trust founder Plot Mhako and Denzel Mabuwa (individuals) and Premier Sounds and Quidro (organisations).

At the event, guests were entertained by Music Crossroads bands namely, Mbira Ensemble, School Choir, The Jazz Elective Students Band, Musha We Rock and Bradley Solo.

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