WE launched a new performing stage!
The Norwegian Ambassador of Malawi, officials from the Ministry of culture, the media and others were present on the day!
This development came at a time when most performing artists in Malawi are struggling to find good venues to perform, with manageable booking and hiring fees. With support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Music Crossroads Malawi constructed a professional performing stage at its academy in Lilongwe to, among other things, address the issue of scarcity of professional performing venues in the country and also as a learning space for its Academy students.
The Music Crossroads Academy, offers young musicians the opportunity to acquire formal music education, share knowledge through cultural exchanges and conduct research among other things. The missing link was the professional performing space, which now contributes to the quest of helping to create a vibrant creative industry in Malawi.
The launch attracted an audience of about 2000 people, who among other things enjoyed the music performances by the Music Crossroads Academy students, the Daughters Band, Jacob Jana academy’s former student, Positive Yut and one of Malawians renowned musicians Lulu.
The stage launch coincided with the Music Crossroads Academy class of 2013 graduation ceremony and farewell to the 2014 class. Packed in one program, the day was a very big day for Music Crossroads Malawi.
The Academy which reinforces and cements the other activities run at the center is equipped with standard, up to date sound systems and musical equipment. Its innovative and locally adapted curriculum allows students to participate fully in the developing music industry in Malawi. The academy is affordable, providing scholarships for deserving musicians, making it accessible to all interested young people.
The relevance and quality of the lessons being offered at the Academy cannot be overemphasised as our students are fairing well on the competitive music industry. Some students have their own music recording studios, others are session artists in different music studios, and others have toured Europe to both perform and learn. Some students have released music albums, others are teaching and just recently, one graduating student has produced ‘Questions and Model Answers’ pamphlets for Harmony and Keyboard Harmony course taught at the academy.
