I was born in 1995 and raised in Nsambya, in the Kitooro slums of Kampala, Uganda. Born in a family of four, I lost my dad at the age of three and after a big family separation, remained with my Mum.
While on the streets of the Katwe slum, collecting scrap metal, I came across music. Inspired by a big marching band called M-Lisada, I requested to join the band at the age of four and they let me in, starting as a drum major in the band. It is at this moment when I fell in love with music. After years of being drum major, I moved on to the trombone, the best instrument on earth. It’s with M-Lisada that I met Brass For Africa and from that moment on, my life changed. I learned that music is not just a source of money and fun, but it comes with loads of life skills and it can change the world. I have now been involved in Brass For Africa programs for eight years, moving from just a mere trombone player to an apprentice, junior teacher, standard teacher, senior teacher and now the Assistant Director of Music Education. Because I loved music, Brass For Africa has given me the chance to meet some of the greatest musicians like Alison Balsom, Guy Baker, and Joshua Bell. Performing at Joshua Bell’s house in New York and at the Royal Albert Hall as a solo performer was a dream come true. Music has changed my life and given me a chance to inspire kids in Africa, and for the last eight years I have taught music and life skills to about 480 students. I am now 25 years of age, in my third year of law school, a trombone player, a junior orchestra conductor and the Assistant Director of Music Education at Brass For Africa, while participating in the Fellowship Program of Teach To Learn.
3 Comments
Lizzie Burrowes
2/28/2020 19:05:28
What an inspiring story about the power of music to change lives. It made a great change in your life, and now you are changing the lives of so many thers, even reaching well over a thousand children when you think of the teachers you have helped to develop. Thank you for sharing your story with the world, Ronald
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Karen Connelly
2/29/2020 06:48:49
Truly inspirational story, good luck in all you do.xx
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