Over the last weeks we’ve been having changes in our teams in Oslo and Johannesburg. We’ve said our goodbyes to Ann Elise, Kaja, Vuyani and Sthembiso, and it’s time to welcome our new PULSE participants!

Siri Storheim

Siri is a musician from Bergen, Norway. She started playing the french horn after being recruited by the local wind band at the age of 9. The same love and enthusiasm for band playing is as present now, at the age of 28. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music performance from The Norwegian Academy of Music and University of Southern California. Since graduating in 2022, she has worked as a freelance musician and music teacher in Oslo. She has also been active in different organizations and boards within the culture sector in Europe, in addition dipping her toe into journalism.

“I was introduced to the PULSE program when studying at Toneheim in 2014-2015 alongside five participants from South Africa, and I was inspired by their playful approach to teaching and playing. Since then, several people I know have traveled the other way, and I think it’s an incredible opportunity to live and work on a different continent while still working with music.”

Siri will contribute to the Education Department team with her solid musical background in addition to her experience from teaching and organization work.

“I hope that I will contribute positively to the Field Band Foundation, and bring some fresh perspective to the organization. But most of all I think I will be the one to learn and be inspired, and I’m excited to bring new knowledge back to Norway. During my exchange I also want to see and experience as much of South Africa as possible, and of course to try all the wonderful local food.”

Siri will be joining our current team in Johannesburg along with Marita and Fredrik, and have already started working with the Education Department in Field Band Foundation.

Letlhogonolo Andrew Modisane

Letlhogonolo Andrew Modisane is 28 years old, born and raised in the township Kagiso 2 in Johannesburg. He started playing music at the age of 7 in a church band and joined the Field Band Foundation in 2006 as a trumpet player. He started working for FBF in 2016 as a brass tutor, but the same year he was selected to march for Pioneer Drum and Burgle Corps in the United States for two seasons in 2016/2017. He was awarded the best trumpet in the Brass section in his second season.

Andrew got selected for the Music Makes a Difference programme in 2019, a exchange programme between FBF and Toneheim Folkehøgskole in Norway to attend the music folk college for a year along with Norwegian students. After the exchange program he got appointed to Band Coordinator in Setlabothja Field Band in 2022, which ended up winning the FBF National Championships in 2023, along with first place in six categories.

“I Joined the PULSE exchange program because I want to grow as an individual so that I can be able to develop others with the knowledge and skills that I have. I also want to work on my musical skills and experience international cuisine, celebrate traditional customs and learn the history of another country.”

Letlhogonolo has an impressive musical background with great merits, has been a trusting role model in Setlabothja Field Band and will be a great addition to our team in Oslo.

Mxolisi Hlatshwayo

Mxolisi Hlatshwayo is a 35-year-old percussionist who joined the Field Band Foundation at the age of 11 years in year 1999 as dancer. Back then they we were called tiny tots (Amapansula). In 2000 he got interested in playing a marching bass drum but was too short to play while marching, but his tutor Mr Kenny advised to rather choose a snare drum. He shortly became one of the best in the percussion section.

Mxolisi went to the FBF Academy in 2011 as the second round of students. He learned how to read a music score and studied many musical subjects such as music theory, history, music reflection and interpretation. He attended different musical workshops that included leadership seminars and seminars on teaching skills, and became a highly acknowledged FBF staff member.

He became a percussion tutor in Alexandra FBF in 2009, a Band Coordinator in 2017 and have been acting Project Officer for three years. He’s been the Band Coordinator in Soweto FBF for a while, and they hold the 1^st position trophy for marching percussion for four consecutive National Championships in a row (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023).

Mxolisi was selected to participate in two FBF tours to Norway in 2014 and 2018, which made him very excited about applying for the PULSE programme.

“I am very excited to be a PULSE participant in Oslo along with Paseka and Andrew, as we are all three from Soweto. I’m looking forward to working with them and working in the PULSE project in the Norwegian Band Federation (NMF) in Norway.”

Mxolisi has been a trustworthy colleague in the Field Band space for many years, and we’re so excited to see his engaging spirit in our Oslo team!

Written by the participants
Edited by Fredrik Haga
Pictures by Marita Stortjønnli-Solvang and Paseka Batshegi