Music Academy of Gauteng celebrates 30-year anniversary

JOHANNESBURG - While some non-profit music schools have had to close their doors, the Music Academy of Gauteng is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The academy was started by late trumpeter Johnny Mekoa in 1994, in Daveyton.

The institution’s Hendrik Monyeki said it lends its survival to its former students stay involved.

“I think this is what mkhulu (Johnny Mekoa) has actually taught us. That he would make the senior students teach the younger ones and when we graduate, we automatically become teachers. Above anything else we push passion, we love what we do and we value the school we are products of. That is how we have kept the doors of the school open,” he said.

Notable artists such as Linda Tshabalala, Mthunzi Mvubu are products of the academy, and it's these artists who inspired students such as Nkosinathi Mpungose to join the school.

“Most of the previous students or former students that are already good and advancing in the industry that come from the Music Academy of Gauteng like Linda Tshabalala they are doing very well, so that what made me curios and I decided to come to the Music Academy of Gauteng," added Monyeki.