St. Alban's College: Difference between revisions
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===Music=== |
===Music=== |
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St Albans College has a music department that is well known across [[South Africa]]. The St Albans College chapel choir attended the [[World Choir Games]] for the first time in the school's history in 2008, and is highly regarded as one of the top school choirs in [[South Africa]]. In 2010, the choir completed a tour of the [[United States of America|United States]], where it toured the East Coast and performed at numerous places including the [[Washington National Cathedral]] in [[Washington D.C.]]. Furthermore the school has an elite singing group, the Barbershop Boys, comprising top singers selected from the chapel choir. The Barbershop Boys is a small band of singers, usually around 15-20 boys, who sing a cappella and often arrange their own pieces. |
St Albans College has a music department that is well known across [[South Africa]]. The St Albans College chapel choir attended the [[World Choir Games]] for the first time in the school's history in 2008, and is highly regarded as one of the top school choirs in [[South Africa]]. In 2010, the choir completed a tour of the [[United States of America|United States]], where it toured the East Coast and performed at numerous places including the [[Washington National Cathedral]] in [[Washington D.C.]]. Furthermore the school has an elite singing group, the Barbershop Boys, comprising top singers selected from the chapel choir. The Barbershop Boys is a small band of singers, usually around 15-20 boys, who sing a cappella and often arrange their own pieces. |
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The Barbershop Boys pioneered the schools "Music Tours" with their extremely successful tour to Argentina in 2004. Under the leadership of the then, Master-in-Charge of music, Mark Stenhouse. The touring group was treated as a professional music group and at times had to have police escorts between the different cities and towns of Argentina. Many of the boys that were part of that group have subsequently gone on post-school, to follow careers closely related to the music industry and the years of 2004 - 2006 are fondly remembered as the "Golden Years" of the Barbershop Boys by the boys who had been in that touring group of 2006. |
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==Notable Old Boys== |
==Notable Old Boys== |
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Revision as of 10:21, 14 December 2012
 | This article contains promotional content. (November 2012) |
| St Alban's College | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Coordinates | 25°46′25″S 28°17′09″E / 25.7737°S 28.2858°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Boarding/Day Boys |
| Motto | Custos Veritatis meaning "Guardian Of The Truth" |
| Established | 1963 |
| Locale | Lynnwood Glen (Suburban) |
| Headmaster | Tom Hamilton |
| Exam board | IEB |
| Grades | Form I–V / Grade 8–12 |
| Number of students | 580 boys |
| Colour(s) | Navy blue, silver and grey |
| Fees | R120,600 (boarding), R 57,555 (day boy) p.a. |
| Website | http://www.stalbanscollege.com/ |
 | |
St Alban's College is a private boarding school/day school for boys situated in the suburb of Lynnwood Glen in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. It was founded in 1963 by Anton Murray.
About
St Alban's College is a young Anglican boys' school. It came into existence on 1 February 1963 with a total strength of 37 boys and 3 masters. It now has 510 boys and 43 teachers plus an array of support staff.
The founder-Headmaster, Anton Murray, was a South African cricketer who sought to maintain the best traditions of liberal education. So an emphasis on well-rounded development prevails, and games such as cricket, rugby and hockey have always figured prominently in its history.
St Alban's has pioneered the way in important areas: opening its doors to boys of colour before it was legal to do so, and providing educational upliftment programmes for disadvantaged members of the community.
Mr Murray devoted twenty years of his life to the school. Mr Paul Marsh was headmaster during a transitional phase lasting for four years. Mr Ronnie Todd introduced many radical changes during his ten years as headmaster, and following his position as headmaster went on to open St Peter's College. The fourth headmaster was Mr Grant Nupen, who was one of those 37 pioneering Foundation Scholars in 1963 and went on to become the first Head Boy, a distinction he held for three years.
Under the direction of the current headmaster, Tom Hamilton, the school has become well-established, steadily heading towards its 50th birthday in 2013.
School Song
The school song is the Hymn for St. Alban:
- Laud the grace of God victorious
- Sing triumphant o'er the foe,
- Tell of him a martyr glorious
- For the changeless truth laid low,
- Faithful servant, valiant soldier,
- Whom all lands and ages know.
- Valiant soldier, proto-matyr,
- First of Britain's sons to die,
- Pagan ire and cries withstanding
- By the grace of God most high.
- By the strength of Him, Protector,
- Who in strength and pow'r was nigh.
- Craggy way and steep and narrow
- Dark and drear the path of blood
- Cruel foes were pressing round him
- As he touched the Jordan's flood
- Yet he stood, a soldier valiant
- And the enemy withstood.
- Patient, humble, like his Master,
- He resigned a spirit calm;
- Crowned with coronal unfading
- Now he bears a martyr's palm;
- Sheathing sword no longer needed,
- He took up the endless psalm:
- Laud and honour to the Father,
- Equal honour to the Son,
- Adoration to the Spirit,
- Ever three and ever one;
- Co-substantial, co-eternal,
- While unending ages run.
Normally, the school only sings verses 1, 4 and 5. Verses 2 and 3 are only sung at certain events.
Headmasters
| Started | Finished | Name |
| 1963 | 1981 | Anton Murray |
| 1982 | 1986 | Paul Marsh |
| 1987 | 1997 | Ronnie Todd |
| 1997 | 2001 | Grant Nupen |
| 2001 | current | Tom Hamilton |
Academics
St Alban's College ranks top ten students of each grade every term; in addition, House Positive is equal to an average of 65% or above and School Positive is from 75%. Since 2008 students at St Alban's College undertakes examinations set by the Independent Examination Board of South Africa.
Sport
Sports offered include Rugby and Hockey (the main sports in the winter time), Cricket, Swimming, Rowing, Basketball and Water Polo (in summer). Other sports are soccer, tennis, squash, athletics and cross-country running.
Culture
A wide variety of cultural activities are offered, the full list which can be found on the school website.
Clubs and Societies
Clubs and societies are an important part of school life, and there is a diverse offering:
- > Adams (Drama)
- > Afrikaans Club
- > Audio-Visual
- > Barbershop (Musical Group)
- > Big Band (Musical Group)
- > Bridge Club
- > Canoe Club
- > College Fundraising Committee
- > Chess Club
- > Chinese Culture
- > Choir
- > Christian Fellowship
- > Community Service
- > Computer Gaming
- > Culture Vultures
- > Dance Sport
- > Film Society
- > Fly Fishing Club
- > French Club
- > Fried Thought on Toast
- > Fusion (Modern Dance)
- > Guitar Club
- > Gangster Club
- > International Cuisine
- > Library Club
- > Life Support (First Aid)
- > Memory Club
- > Mitre (School Magazine)
- > Oratorical (Debating and Public Speaking)
- > Photographic Club
- > Political Awareness
- > Public Relations Committee
- > Radio Club
- > Raps
- > Rock Climbing
- > Rock Club
- > Servers
- > Stock Market Challenge
- > String Ensemble
- > Student Parliament
- > Super Thinking Club
- > Tea & Anthropology
- > The Alchemist (Chemistry Club)
- > Word of Art
- > Young Ambassadors
- > Young Engineers
Music
St Albans College has a music department that is well known across South Africa. The St Albans College chapel choir attended the World Choir Games for the first time in the school's history in 2008, and is highly regarded as one of the top school choirs in South Africa. In 2010, the choir completed a tour of the United States, where it toured the East Coast and performed at numerous places including the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C.. Furthermore the school has an elite singing group, the Barbershop Boys, comprising top singers selected from the chapel choir. The Barbershop Boys is a small band of singers, usually around 15-20 boys, who sing a cappella and often arrange their own pieces.
The Barbershop Boys pioneered the schools "Music Tours" with their extremely successful tour to Argentina in 2004. Under the leadership of the then, Master-in-Charge of music, Mark Stenhouse. The touring group was treated as a professional music group and at times had to have police escorts between the different cities and towns of Argentina. Many of the boys that were part of that group have subsequently gone on post-school, to follow careers closely related to the music industry and the years of 2004 - 2006 are fondly remembered as the "Golden Years" of the Barbershop Boys by the boys who had been in that touring group of 2006.
The school also has a Big Band, and new, smaller groups are constantly being created by groups of musicians. The school has an auditorium on campus where it holds many annual concerts.
Notable Old Boys
- Tyrone Annor
- Timothy Badock
- Bertrand Bizimana (South African Actor and Rapper) (1992-)
- Bongani Mbonambi - Macs Momey And Blue Bulls Hooker
- David Musto (Philanthropist, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker) - (1955-)
- Xola Ntshinnga - SuperSport Presenter
- David Rattray - historian and raconteur, fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (1958–2007).
- John Smith (South African rower) - Olympic Gold Medalist for rowing, quads, 2012 London Olympics.
- Richard Sterne - Pro Golfer
- Jabulani Tsambo a/k/a Hip Hop Pantsula, rapper