At The Hall we are getting excited as the Music Tour of South Africa 2023 approaches!

October will see the Music Tour's third visit to Morning Stars, a community youth outreach programme, based in Mamelodi, Pretoria in South Africa, founded in 2008 by Mrs Celia Dhladhla.

Since 2016, The Hall Music Tour has fundraised for the charity, purchasing a 'music house' facility in 2019 which we now want to renovate and equip with excellent resources to enable further opportunities for the Morning Stars young musicians.

Morning Stars provides disadvantaged young people in the township of Mamelodi with three things they deserve and need, focused around music; somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

The young people have opportunities to learn musical instruments and to participate in musical activities which lead to the development of self-discipline, teamwork and resilience. Once they have acquired adequate proficiency in their instrument, they offer performances and concerts in different contexts. Morning Stars aims to provide a safe space not only for the nurturing of musical talent, but also for addressing the psychological and emotional needs of the children who participate in its programmes. For many children, Morning Stars offers the chance for a different and more promising future for themselves and their families.

Hall students going on the Tour in October 2023 are now busy deciding how each of them will contribute to the fundraising. They are using their initiative to think of fun and novel ways to raise money over the summer months, perhaps through sponsored practice and busking sessions, for example. The school's aim is to make around £20,000 - £25,000 before we depart for South Africa in October.

All support you may be able to offer will be gratefully received - no amount is too small to make a difference. Thank you.