Mamelodi Music Conservatoire

BIO

The Mamelodi Music Conservatoire (MMC) is a remarkable non-profit organization founded in 2009 by Mmatapa Ramatjela while she was a Bachelor of Music student at the University of Pretoria. Born from a university project, its mission is to address the critical shortage of classical music education in Mamelodi, Gauteng, and to provide a positive, life-changing opportunity for children and youth aged 7 to 22 from disadvantaged families. The conservatoire specifically serves students whose parents are unemployed or earn below a certain threshold, offering them a constructive alternative and helping to curb crime and drug abuse in the community .

Operating every Saturday and during school holidays from Koos Matli Primary School, the MMC provides rigorous instruction to dozens of students in music history, theory, and a wide range of instruments, including violin, cello, piano, trumpet, and trombone. The conservatoire operates under the University of South Africa (Unisa) Music Foundation, which supplies instruments, accredited teachers, and exam fees, allowing students to earn formal certifications. The dedication of the students and staff is evident in their performances at prestigious events like the Pretoria Eisteddfods and the Moretele Park tribute concert, with many talented individuals going on to play in national youth orchestras