Music training supports young talent at Radiance Academy and Kabarak in Nakuru.
Radiance Academy and Moi High and Senior School, Kabarak, help students develop musical skills through rehearsals, school activities and public performances.
Nakuru school bands are helping young students develop musical talent through regular training, teamwork and performances. At Radiance Academy and Moi High and Senior School, Kabarak, music also builds discipline and confidence.
The two bands have entertained audiences at national celebrations, school ceremonies and private events over the years. However, Kabarak now concentrates mainly on activities within the institution.
How Nakuru school bands develop talent
Radiance Academy, in Free Area, Nakuru City, runs a brass band under director Collins Sewe. He attributes its growth to sustained effort, enthusiasm and a shared commitment to improving performances.
Sewe said the musicians’ experience includes Sunday School choirs, music festivals and participation in bands during their education. Along the way, county, regional and national festivals have offered opportunities to develop their skills.
He also said the band’s activities complement the Competency-Based Curriculum. For Sewe, determination and belief in their abilities remain central to the students’ progress.
The school’s investment in music has earned the band an invitation to entertain at Mashujaa Day celebrations. The invitation covers the Nakuru East Sub-County event.
Family support and school choirs open doors
For Radiance Academy drum major Naftali James Ogeto, encouragement began at home during his early childhood. His parents supported his interest in music as he took part in grassroots festivals.
Ogeto, a 14-year-old Grade Eight student, later joined the school choir in 2024. That experience helped him strengthen his musical ability before moving into the band.
Percussionist Spencer Musyoka similarly highlighted the value of school music activities in developing young performers. Meanwhile, drummer Alpha Njoria traced his interest to music shows he watched on television.
Those programmes inspired Njoria to pursue music himself, giving him a different starting point from his bandmates. Together, their experiences show the different routes students take into school music.
Teamwork also matters to Deng’ Abut, a Sudanese student and the only girl in Radiance Academy’s 36-member band. She said the group’s supportive relationships strengthen its commitment during both rehearsals and official engagements.
Kabarak focuses on school performances
At Moi High and Senior School, Kabarak, in Rongai Constituency, band music remains part of school life. However, Head of Music Dorothy Zalo said about 90 per cent of its engagements now involve school-based activities.
These include assemblies and church functions, which provide settings for students to perform within the institution. Previously, the band also entertained audiences at public events in Mogotio.
The school operates both brass and woodwind bands, although it places greater emphasis on woodwind music. Its current focus therefore differs from Radiance Academy’s forthcoming sub-county celebration appearance.
Beyond entertaining guests, students say band membership helps them develop teamwork, discipline and an appreciation of music. Both schools offer opportunities to practise those skills through training and performances.
