Sigma Alpha Iota

Fall 2019 20 PAN PIPES BEAUTY continued from page 19 their country today, though the journey of healing has begun. Due to this long enforced separation of people under apartheid law, whole communities have been isolated from one another into the haves and the have nots. Mere minutes away from down- town Johannesburg, home to the wealthiest square miles in the whole nation, is the town- ship called Alexandra, where poverty and unemployment soar. In Alexandra the homes generally consist of sheet metal twisted to- gether and held down by rocks. The chances a young man will go to prison are higher than the chances he has to find work. The idea that you will grow old is just that: an idea. This is a whole community of people who struggle with day to day life in ways I had not previously thought possible for my fellow humans in the twenty-first century. Despite this immense struggle, these people are not without happi- ness and are not lost to the compassion and aid of others. Hotel Hope Ministries is an organization dedicated to the support of pregnant mothers and the abandoned and orphaned children of South Africa. Unlike other organizations, Hotel Hope takes in a number of children and raises them in a truly loving and homelike environment up to the age of 18 if that child cannot find an adoptive home. It is an amaz- ing organization and while visiting there you feel the love and commitment they have for these children. Spending an afternoon there with my SAI sisters and other Wingate Univer- sity choir members, we had the opportunity to connect with these children who show such a capacity for joy and love, despite the difficult beginnings of their lives. Playing, singing, and dancing to the chorus of little voices calling to you, "auntie" and "uncle"…the joy is conta- gious. They embrace life as it is and overcome; an admirable quality and something I think we lose touch with as adults, even in our lives of plenty. These kids grow up having so little and still maintain a deep appreciation of life, and the kids at Hotel Hope are the lucky few. Traveling in South Africa you can expect warm hospital- ity from the majority of the local people. Smiling faces and very creative handshakes were common greetings to us. When the local people found out we were a choir though…those smiles grew and there was almost an instantaneous insistence that we sing. We, a group of 27 Americans, would nod and stand, gathering around to wait for a pitch. My favorite moments over those ten days were spent watch- ing the faces of our audience as we began a South African piece. In restaurants, on street corners, and in concert halls we watched the native people's eyes light up in recognition and appreciation, right before, most often, they joined in the singing too! They knew, before we began th e song, that we were American tourists, but when we were able to share and collaborate in their language with their music: connections were instantly formed. Instead of being outsiders we became part of their cul- ture and heritage, even if only for those four minutes of singing and dancing, we celebrated on common ground. Walking through the market carrying my newly purchased djembe I had complete strangers come up behind me and begin to drum. Dancing and singing in the market with the people of South Africa, normal people just going about their lives, you caught a glimpse of the spirit of the na- tion. Music pervades their culture and the celebration of sound is almost never ceas- ing. Informal music making in the streets, performers earning their wages, concerts in massive halls. Songs for walking, songs for working, songs for dancing, songs for the simple sake of singing. That is South Africa and it is that embracing of music, in every moment, which connects the people of that nation: natives or tourists, young or old, black or white, all. During our time in Johannesburg we were hosted for several days by Wits University Choir. While we were their guests, Wits put on a community choir festival which we got to participate in. We spent the day in rehearsals with members from every choir learning songs from three directors who represented a differ- ent element of culture and music from their distinct backgrounds. A sacred piece with flourishing piano was led by the Wits director, a traditional South African Xhosa song was led by a community choir director complete with djembe and dancing, and an a capella rendition of "Keep Your Lamps" to represent the African American Spiritual tradition of singing was led by "the american choir" as the locals described us. We performed individual sets and these three collective works, each bringing our own contributions to the table and experiencing music from another walk of life. This collaboration was a truly special ex- perience and allowed us a space to enjoy and be moved by one another. This is the power of music. The ability it has to transform, connect, and inspire. As a musician and a sister of SAI, I hope you know and experience the transcending qualities of music. Knowing this feeling myself, I still had never encountered this phenomenon on such a broad platform. Music fosters understanding despite the color of your skin, the money to your name, the school you do or don't go to, or the country you call home. Music celebrates our differences, instead of highlighting them in a negative light. That is the power of music: creating unity, understanding, and moments of extraordinary beauty. — Holly Shropshire, Vice President Membership, Mu Lambda Chapter, Wingate University A World of Music This collaboration was a truly special experience and allowed us a space to enjoy and be moved by one another. This is the power of music.

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