History - Drakondale School of The Arts

EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF DRAKONDALE

High School for Boys and Girls from grade 8-12

Our Founding Members: Mr. John Tungay, Mrs. Paula Tungay and Mrs. Wendy Clarke had a vision to create a school that embraced both academic and artistic excellence, set in the beautiful KZN Midlands.

In January 2017 this dream became a reality with our first intake of learners who became the cornerstone of our still growing school.

Although small and in its infancy these Drakondale girls took top honours in the Children's section of the World Choir Games in 2018. Since then Drakondale School has grown from strength to strength and, by popular demand is now co-ed and has become the hub for the development of arts in all its forms: Visual Arts, Music Studies, Dramatic Arts and Dance Studies.

2017

Performed three songs on the album “Songs That Made Us Free – The Liberation Project. Released by EMI.
Performed at the “Festival in the Hills” with Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Hillcrest.

2018

March 2018 girls undertook a teambuilding exercise with Unilever, incorporating music and choreography, Conductor: Mrs. Judith Hawthorne
March 2018 Pietermaritzburg Music Eisteddfod, Conductor: Mrs. Judith Hawthorne
April 2018 dancers performed with the Lisa Jennings School of Dance.
May 2018 girls performed at the Queensburgh Eisteddfod, Conductor: Mrs. Judith Hawthorne
July 2018 World Choir Games Champions. Won 1 x Gold and 2 x Silver Medals. Conductor: Mrs. Ronel Perks.
August 2018 first live recording of an album with Don Clarke. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
August 2018 Performed at Amber Valley. A medley of songs. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
November 2018 Performed the theme song “Till You’re Free Again” (written by Don Clarke) at the premier of the Leon Schuster movie “Frank & Fearless”
November 2018 Performed “Frequency” and “Beth” on the ridge at Sani Pass with Jack Mantis ( as part of an international music documentary “The Sailing Conductors – Blown Away”. This documentary has been entered into the Ocean Film Festival.
December 2018 performed at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall with five time Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo for an “African Christmas”. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
December 2018: Performed “A Ceremony of Carols” at Trinity Cathedral, Cascades Lifestyle Centre and Red Acres. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
Dec 2018 The song “Till You’re Free Again” went on to win the 20^TH Annual Great American Song Contest, Song of the Year, due to its environmentally friendly message.

2019

March 2019 Performed at “Music in The Park” with Jack Mantis, Don Clarke, Dave Knowles and Ard Matthews. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
March 2019 was asked by Environmentalist John Varty to perform the song “The Matriarch” (written by Don Clarke) for the opening of the National Transfrontier Park.
April 2019 Performed “Songs of Inspiration” with the PAMS (Pietermaritzburg Amateur Music Society) at the Garrison Church, Pietermaritzburg. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
May 2019 Participated in the Choral Elite held at Michaelhouse for local choral choirs. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
May 2019 Participated in the “Autumn Soiree” held at Drakondale GCS. Celebration of Music, Dance, and Dramatic Arts. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
June 2019 Guest performers with Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the “Cothoza Music Awards Ceremony” at the Durban Playhouse. Conductor: MR. B. Gresse
June 2019 Guest artists at the Youth Summit – Nelson Mandela Capture Site. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
June 2019 Guest artists at the Gandhi Day Memorial – PMB Railway Station. Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
July 2019: Autumn Soiree – Drakondale GCS - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
August 2019 : High Tea – Drakondale GCS - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
August 2019: Performed with Leon Schuster and the Michaelhouse Choir for the Rugby World Cup in Japan - Hey Bokke written by Don Clarke
August 2019: Performed with PAMS “Feel the Spirit” Concert – Cordwalles Prep School.
August 2019 Performed with PAMS “Feel the Spirit” Concert – Drakondale GCS
November 2019 performed with PAMS “Handels Messiah” - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
December 2019 performed at Piggly Wiggly (Christmas Carols) - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse

2020

September 2020 Requested by the Indian Consulate General of India to perform “Vaishnava Jana To” to celebrate 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse
October 2020 performed at the re-launch of KZN Tourism (PMB Airstrip) - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse

2021

Performed at the June 2021 opening of the ASSOCIATED COUNTRY WOMAN OF THE WORLD CONGRESS at Fernhill Hotel, KZN Midlands - Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse.
Requested to perform the opening and closing songs (16 June 2021) during a webinar session for the launch of the “DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD” hosted by the UNESCO
Christmas Performances at Drakondale School, Amber Valley and Amber Glen – Conductor: Mr. B. Gresse.

Drakondale School of the Arts is a High School for Boys and Girls from grade 8-12

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