We have many fantastic music patrons who continue to pour their time, wisdom, resources, energy and love into our program

In the last few years, we’ve produced high calibre musicians and bands who can boast to having performed alongside local bands such as The Parlotones, Mango Groove, Prime Circle Watershed, Elvis Blue, Vusi Mashelsa and Judith Sephuma to name a few.

The way we see it, music is indispensable. It fuels education, boosts self-esteem and promotes a global sense of happiness that’s hard to beat – and we’re not just making that up.

When the Casterbridge Music Development Academy (CMDA) opened its doors in 2010, the idea was to provide a platform for local children to develop an interest in music and the performing arts. An idea that we hoped would impact their lives positively.

The Route 40 Music festival is a unique event to Mpumalanga and to South Africa in that it provides opportunities for talented youthful musicians, most of whom are still at school, to perform alongside well-known national and international artists.