Buskaid celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, and marked the occasion with a special gala performance at the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg featuring the world premiere of Scarlatti in Soweto, composed specially for the South African educational programme by the British composer Julian Grant.
Founded by London freelance violist Rosemary Nalden a quarter of a century ago, Buskaid has inspired and trained thousands of young musicians. Its Soweto String Ensemble has toured the world, broadcast on radio and television, made CD and DVD recordings, commanded innumerable column inches in the media and been the subject of documentaries as well as several academic dissertations. The programme continues to excite incredulity, discussion and analysis in music education circles, and its remarkable achievements vindicate the power of music as a social force.
Buskaid has