Networking: Roedean School sings in the United States

From the moment that the girls spontaneously broke into song in the departure hall of O.R. Tambo Airport, I knew that this journey was going to be more meaningful than simply a cultural exchange, a working tour and a United States homestay. Groups gathered, from airport staff to fellow travellers, to join in with Shosholoza and African prayers as we boarded the plane. To say this journey was blessed is an understatement: we were blessed by the presence of the beautiful young daughters of South Africa: girls aged 13 to 18 from all religions, cultures, races, and backgrounds; blessed by the universal language of music which would unite us with Americans all over the East Coast; and blessed by the welcome, generosity, and hospitality of our hosts - the American people.

Over the 2008 April holidays, from 11 April to 4 May 2008, 39 Roedean choristers, two female teachers, Ms Nell Bowen (Director of Music) and I, Mrs Catherine Harrison, (Deputy Headmistress), the Choir Master extraordinaire, Mr Ralf Schmitt, and two guides from the Chase Foundation, Mrs Debbie Harland and Mrs Susan Chase, set out to tour eight US states in a celebration of African music and culture. What an amazing trip this would prove to be.

Our first stop was the Big Apple. On the first Sunday, we celebrated mass in St Paul’s Chapel. This intimate service began with coffee and muffins offered to all. People came in from the streets to share the simple breakfast. The chapel is across the road from Ground Zero and a spirit of concern and love for all humanity was felt by all the members of the small congregation. On 11 September 2001, victims of the attack took shelter in St Paul’s and family members and friends came into the Chapel to pray for their missing and lost relatives in the shattering days that followed the attack. As South Africans, we experienced just a small part of the warmth and kindness of this Christian community. The next day we participated in the midday service in its grander big brother, Trinity Church, on Wall Street.   

Monday brought our first contact with the two girls’ schools with which we were to connect in New York. Nightingale Bamford School and Spence School are both situated just off Central Park. The schools are part of the high-rise, affluent life of the city. Seniors enjoy privileges such as a private patio and the use of the elevator. Girls arrive at school by taxi, bus or the more familiar family transport. Many students enjoy early morning coffee and a bagel in a café across the street. Our girls were fascinated by the different lifestyle; yet the curriculum, values and objectives of the schools were all too familiar. The heads of both schools were accessible, friendly academics willing to share their knowledge and friendship. All stereotypes of New Yorkers were smashed to smithereens.  The people were friendly and warm – busy, yes, striving for the best, yes, but, all took the time to greet and offer a kind word.

Princeton is an academic’s dream come true.  This beautiful little town is a lot like Stellenbosch. Five thousand students go to Princeton University - no wonder it is well-nigh impossible to get in!  We were hosted by Princeton High School - a government school, but certainly not an ordinary one.  Its music centre, theatre and auditorium were breathtaking. One became acutely aware of how wealthy America is, as a country.  Resources seem to be freely available. We really felt the pain of the exchange rate, as Americans spoke of projects that would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Staff/pupil ratios are comfortable in private and well-resourced government schools.

It was in Princeton that we truly began to experience American hospitality at its best.  Mums were ready for us with cake, chocolates and metre-long baguettes. The Americans could not stop praising our girls for their manners and behaviour and their beautiful singing. At each host school, they did not want to say goodbye. We, in turn, felt the palpable love of the American people. Xenophobia was non-existent. There may well have been certain myths that our girls shattered. All too familiar with MTV, iPods and Apples, our girls and theirs differed very little. The accents were slightly different (more so down South), but there was definitely a shared language. PTA mums everywhere work tirelessly to provide scrumptious food and warm hospitality. It is the same the world over.

Our next stop was the capital, Washington, and during our stay we delighted in the Monument, the White House and the Lincoln Memorial, amongst other sights. Our stay in this magnificent city was unforgettable and both the staff and the girls forged lasting friendships. Washington Cathedral School for Girls and St Alban’s for Boys will be visiting South Africa in June 2008 and many ISASA schools will be part of their South African stay. The connections made in the northern hemisphere put to rest any qualms the Americans may have had about sending their children to South Africa. The American girls simply remarked, ‘They have it all there’, and the realisation that we are like-minded in so many ways was brought home.  The concert in Washington Cathedral was such an honour, and our receiving of the Eucharist, first at St Alban’s Church and then at St John’s, was spiritually uplifting.

Our tour was then punctuated by a stop-over in Lexington and a concert for the local community in the Presbyterian Church. Our singing was at its best and each of the special venues was a musician’s dream, with magnificent organs and outstanding acoustics.

We then visited the charming girls’ school, Chatham Hall, where we were hosted in their boarding house. We performed not only at Chatham but also at Sacred Heart and a local government school, Washington High School. Like South Africa, the United States is a land of extreme contrasts. Chatham had been part of community work in Cape Town last year and staff and pupils were thrilled to make more South African friends.

Our singing received standing ovations at every performance (25 in total, not to mention workshops). Perhaps there are better choirs, with stronger voices and a wider repertoire.  What I believe made us so successful were these qualities: the energy and expertise of Mr Ralf Schmitt; the discipline and love of singing of our girls and, above all, their authenticity. Here were REAL South African teenagers singing real South African songs in so many South African languages. We were praising the Lord and paying homage to our country, our people and our school.

The last leg of our tour was the South: charming Charleston, amazing Atlanta, and then the final stop: New Orleans. We were warned that we would be bowled over by southern hospitality and we were not disappointed. Despite being in the third week of the tour, the girls remained upbeat, largely because of the unstoppable Ralf Schmitt, who kept the repertoire fresh with new songs and spontaneous programme changes that ensured the choristers were on their toes. Porter Gaud School, in Charleston, allowed the girls to participate in lessons and our well-disciplined Roedeanians found the easy-going classes quite an eye-opener. The Walker School, in Atlanta, amazed us with its enormous facilities: two Olympic-size gymnasiums plus theatres and auditoriums! St Martin’s Episcopal School, in New Orleans, treated us to a true southern welcome on our late arrival: milk and cookies and traditional strings of Mardi Gras beads. 

The music staff in all schools was full of energy. Nick Lacasse, in Charleston, is a real-live Elvis impersonator and Kate Arthur in New Orleans tours the world with her own band during summer. It is not unusual for American teachers to hold more than one job and I am amazed at their energy.

When asked about highlights, I must mention three: firstly, participating in the service in the Martin Luther King Centre, in Atlanta, on Freedom Day, 29 April.  The pastor looked at our choir and remarked to the congregation that clearly democracy is working in South Africa! Secondly, we had asked that a day be set aside for us to do something to help in post-Katrina New Orleans. Working under the supervision of Habitat for Humanity and Americorps crew leaders, we set about hammering together wooden casements that would become part of the framing of the 27 new houses in the 9th Ward.  It was wonderful to be part of an international team, to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Thirdly, the next day we sang in the New Orleans Jazz Festival in a programme that included Stevie Wonder! I consider myself to be truly privileged to have been part of such an experience.

School tours vary in success. Some aim for experience; others for enrichment; still others for a cultural, sporting or educational exchange. The Roedean USA Choir Tour achieved all these goals, and more. I am sincerely thankful to all who made this possible: Mrs Mary Williams and the Roedean Board, Mrs Susan Chase and Mrs Debbie Harland of the Chase Foundation, the Roedean Music Department (especially Ms Nell Bowen and Mr Ralf Schmitt), the US schools and churches who opened their hearts and homes to us and, most especially, the Roedean parents who lent me their wonderful daughters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mrs Catherine Harrison is Deputy Headmistress at Roedean School, in South Africa. Her portfolio is entitled Director of Student Affairs but her business ranges from counselling to discipline; events planning to leadership. Her interests revolve around her family: husband, two daughters and four animals. She loves travelling, reading, watching movies and being physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally fit. Mrs Harrison has a masters degree in linguistics, but has taken recent courses ranging from management to mentorship.  She has devoted her life to the education of young minds and is an idealist, believing in a bright future for South Africa and the world.

 

Go to top of page     Go to online discussion