About Us

The KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band is a prestigious band of talented young music students. The band consists of 61 musicians between the ages of 13 and 25, from diverse cultural backgrounds, who attend high schools and tertiary institutions throughout KwaZulu-Natal.

The band offers these young, gifted musicians the opportunity to perform challenging music in an orchestral environment, and thus develop their skills to play in major professional orchestras at a later stage. For most of the players, music will become part of, if not the whole of, their careers.

Origins and History

Mr Werner Dannewitz, current conductor of the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band, was instrumental in the founding of the forerunner of the band in Pietermaritzburg in 1977. This band grew in stature and in 1985 was given provincial status and officially named the Natal Youth Wind Band. In 1995 the name was changed appropriately to the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band in keeping with the changes that have taken place in our country. Mr Dannewitz returned as conductor the same year, and the old magic has returned to the band. Under Mr Dannewitz's baton, the band regularly has enthusiastic foot-stamping ovations.

From 1991 the Durban Music and Ballet School managed the Wind Band. Since the closure of the Music School a few years ago, the band has been accomodated on the premises of Durban High School and the new Durban Music School in the city center.


About the Conductor

Under its current conductor Werner Dannewitz, the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band has achieved its present status of excellence.

Werner Dannewitz is a professional clarinettist. He was born in Germany, and started his instruction at the age of nine under the guidance of Professor Ernst Flackus. He started his musical career with the Durban Symphony Orchestra as Principal Clarinettist. Whilst lecturing at the Conservatoire of Music in Windhoek, he formed the Windhoek Youth Wind Band.

He joined the Natal Education Department in Pietermaritzburg, and in 1977 founded the Natal Youth Wind Band, the forerunner of the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band. He conducted this band till the end of 1986.

Mr. Dannewitz is a founder member of the Acadamy of Music at the Natal Technicon and frequently plays with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. He was involved in the establishment of, and is currently the director of the new Durban Music School, where tuition and training is be provided for future musicians. He returned to direct the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band at the beginning of 1995. Mr. Dannewitz enjoys the respect of all the members of the Band, and is concerned with promoting these aspiring young musicians, not only as representatives of our province, but also as representatives of South Africa in international music festivals.


Educational function

The variety and versatility of wind instruments, notably the flute, clarinet, saxophone and trumpet, make these instruments particularly popular among aspiring young musicians. Older pupils (12 years +) can start learning a wind instrument and still make a success of it, in spite of having started with music tuition rather late in life.

The conventional symphony orchestra usually has only three players in each instrument in the wind sections. This does not provide sufficient opportunities for all pupils to play their instruments together with other young musicians, especially if they are still learning. Symphonic wind bands, like the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band, create far more opportunities for wind players to perform together in an orchestra setting.

The Wind band often takes their music to local schools (see School tours). By catering for a broad spectrum of tastes, the members of the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band perform an important educational task as a service to the community.


Development Program

The aims of the development program are to:

During 1999 strategies for the Development Programme of the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band were put in place, with the help of Mr. Brian Thusi who runs a music school for local students in Umlazi. Mr. Thusi, a professional musician, and Mr. Dannewitz collaborate closely on the development of young artists from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. At the end of 1999 the first of the "developmental school concerts" was held at a community hall in Edendale. A concert will be organised each year with Mr. Thusi to facilitate the identification of young people who would otherwise not learn to play a musical instrument - particularly wind instruments. With the grant received from the National Arts Council of South Africa, we are able to offer tuition in instruments obtained through the old Durban Music School collection. Mr. Thusi arranges tuition for these students. When they reach an appropriate standard, they are able to audition for the Wind Band.

Some notable Concerts and Performances

1997

1998

Appearances at

and several educational concerts at schools.

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Sponsors

The Band requires sponsorship for its development programme, as well as for tours.

Thank you to all our past sponsors.