Safaricom Youth Orchestra Marks 7th Graduation Ceremony

Safaricom will mark the seventh Safaricom Youth Orchestra graduation ceremony on Sunday. This will be the second year in a row it is being conducted virtually. It will be streamed on Safaricom’s YouTube Channel from 2 PM East African time.

11 music students are set to graduate and will be awarded certificates in orchestral music having learnt to play various instruments ranging from the Flute, Alto Sax, Trumpet and Violin.

“Music education is highly beneficial to students’ well being and development. In line with our purpose of transforming lives, Safaricom is dedicated to continuously support and invest in music platforms such as the Safaricom Youth Orchestra and Ghetto Classics that play a key role in uplifting the lives of young boys and girls,” says Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO.

The Safaricom Youth Orchestra was launched in 2014 by the late Bob Collymore with the aim of bringing together gifted and talented students and tutors to make beautiful music. 

Over 130 students have graduated so far and progressed to pursue their university education, specializing in different disciplines. The orchestra draws 45% of its students from public schools, 30% from the Ghetto Classics program, and 25% from private schools.

“Today marks a very big day for us and I am overjoyed to see our students grow into young talents. Our aim has always been to provide the youth with an opportunity guided by some of Kenya’s finest musicians and music directors to obtain skills necessary to become Kenya’s next generation of professional musicians,” said Elizabeth Njoroge, Founder- Art of Music.

The orchestra’s year is divided into three terms, May to July, August to December and finally, January to April, when the students who have completed high school graduate.

Call for applications to join the orchestra closed end of March, and auditions are currently being held virtually, where successful candidates will be selected by the music directors and tutors through a combination of theoretical and practical tests.