“Even when all things depart, music will always remain in one’s heart.”
This is a personal saying of Eshwin Klassen, a director and secretary of the new Metro Community Band from Kariega, which already boasts a list of performances with the highlights including performances for the Department of Health at the Vooma Vaccination programme hosted by the Office of the Premier as well as at the official opening of the Corkwood Square Mall in Kariega.
“Metro Community Band consists of goal oriented and committed community minded individuals with a great passion for music. We are always willing to go the extra mile when it comes to lending a helping hand to those in our community. We have a great team that shows so much compassion towards fellow members and wouldn’t think twice to better the lives of others,” said Klassen.
“For some people it might just be a beat, or a note being triggered, but for me it is much more than that. It helps me up when I am at my weakest and helps me to get my mind off everything else that has been bothering me.
“Brass music has always been part of who I am and what I live for. It is therefore because of music that I have made a career choice to stand today as a qualified Sound Engineer and proven track record in Radio Production,” said Klassen who plays a snare drum and a trumpet.
For most members who joined Metro Community Band it is the same as with Klassen, to join a band which offers them the opportunity to do what they love and most important, to make a positive impact within their communities, through music.
From drive by memorials to birthday celebrations
Chairperson and founder member of the band, Simon Mostert, said with the once popular steadfast brass band’s disbanding, the opportunity arose for the establishment of another band.
“Music is needed in our communities. We have to celebrate life, we have to celebrate the good, reach out to our communities and have to sooth and bring honour in a time of loss and sadness as we are experiencing with the pandemic which has hit our communities very hard,” said Mostert.
Metro Community Band has performed at numerous drive-by memorial services or funerals of people who have passed on owing to COVID-19.
“This was hectic. At some stages we were literally running around doing two to three funerals or drive by memorial services per day. But it is our job, uplifting and encouraging families who have lost loved ones. It was tiring and we were also very scared of the virus, but we are committed to do what we do best, play music to touch the hearts of our people,” said Mostert.
He together with Hermanus Suys and Donovan Human on 1 November 2019 decided to establish the new band as there are so many talented musicians in the community who share the same urge to perform and through music contribute in a positive way to communities.
The Metro Community Band currently consists of four directors – Neil Samdaan, Simon Mostert, Eshwin Klassen and Weslynne Blaauw together with 35 band members, most of whom are unemployed, playing brass or rhythm instruments with the youngest member being six years and the oldest member is 60.
“On a personal level, I must thank the brilliant musician and a former Brigade Band member, Ebrahim Jenniker, who has motivated and inspired me to develop my musical talents. He has moved to Cape Town and is with Symphony Sounds, but I will always honour him for the role he played in my life,” said Mostert, who can play all the instruments used in the band, with his favourite instrument being the trumpet.
“We invite musicians, especially young ones, to join our band. The band practice is on Wednesdays and Fridays at 22 Sanger Street in Rosedale,” said Mostert.
The Metro Community Band is a registered non-profit organisation and can be booked for Christmas Carols performances between 20 and 25 December at residential or business properties, and institutions like old age homes. They also perform at private events like birthday parties, special celebrations, or any event to surprise someone special.
- For more information or to book the Metro Community Band call Eshwin Klassen on 061 934 8608 or by simply sending a message on their Business WhatsApp on 067 755 3019. Also find them on Facebook under Metro Community Band.
