Raising their voices in traditional song, the SAMRO choir, under the deft hand of Prof Mzilikazi Khumalo, opened the SAMRO Builders’ Awards held on Wednesday. In celebrating its 50th anniversary, SAMRO honoured the people and organisations that have played an integral role in building it into Africa’s largest copyright administration and royalty collection organisation.
Renowned composer and performer Coenie de Villiers, who is also a SAMRO Board member, followed Prof Khumalo’s introduction with three of his own piano compositions, including the very first song he registered with SAMRO in 1973. Speaking at the event, SAMRO Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Motsatse said: “A day like this brings with it a deep sense of connectivity – of how, as people, our lives and destinies can be intertwined and connected. It brings into perspective how the decisions and actions taken at any one time can have an effect on generations to come.”
He went on to say that the Builders’ Awards were being held to express gratitude and recognise the role that each recipient had played in ensuring that a number of local composers, lyricists, authors and publishers are today able to have decent jobs and careers. The first category of awards, presented by SAMRO Chief Operations Officer Bronwen Harty, honoured SAMRO members, publishers and licensees.
Fittingly, the awards opened with the Class of ’62 Composers’ Award, which paid tribute to the first group of composers and authors elected to full membership at the inaugural SAMRO Board meeting in January 1962. They might not have known it at the time, but the Class of ’62 was forging the very foundations of SAMRO. Fifty years later, the ranks of the organisation have swelled to over 12 000 members. SAMRO thanked these pioneering artists for their creativity and belief in the fledgling collecting society.
The Class of ’62 Publisher’s Award acknowledged the first group of publishers who bravely transferred their copyright interests to SAMRO in 1962. Gallo Publishing was awarded the Longevity Award for a Publisher. Home to the cream of South African and African musical heritage, Gallo Music Publishing celebrated SAMRO’s golden anniversary as its longest serving publishing member. The Longevity Award for a Licensee was awarded to the SABC, which is SAMRO’s longest serving licensee.
It is a mutually beneficial relationship that has grown and faced tremendous change over the last five decades. The SABC remains a treasured SAMRO partner and stakeholder. Lifetime Member Achievement Awards were bestowed on David Daniel “Strike” Vilakazi, the composer of Meadowlands and the first black member of SAMRO, and globally renowned composer, arranger, choir director and music scholar of Prof Mzilikazi Khumalo.
Eminent art-music composer Professor Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph and much-loved jazz singer and composer Dorothy Masuku were also presented with Lifetime Member Achievement Awards. Princess Constance Magogo kaDinuzulu Buthelezi, a pioneer of women’s rights and a torchbearer for the preservation and development of traditional African music, was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Member Achievement Award. In accepting the award on behalf of his mother and presenting SAMRO with a beautiful photographic image of Princess Magogo, the Honourable Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said: “Between Dr Gideon Roos Senior and Nicholas Motsatse lies a legacy built with many hands. I am proud to know that my mother was among those who built this legacy.”
The Staff Recognition Awards, presented by SAMRO Chief Financial Officer Greg Zoghby, acknowledged the key role that SAMRO’s committed, hard-working staff members have played in the success of the organisation. Long-Service Awards for Staff went to the following current employees: Helen Isaacs, who started working at SAMRO on 8 April 1980, Daniel Gerber (3 June 1970), Glenda Theron (18 February 1972) and Gerard Robinson (1 March 1973). Also acknowledged were past members of staff who had dedicated more than 30 years of service to SAMRO, including Michael Levy, Robert Mam-pane, Marius Louw and Mavule Setshoane.
The third and final category of awards was devoted to sister collection societies and past SAMRO Board members and executives. These accolades were presented by Motsatse. PRS for Music (a UK collection society) and SUISA (a Swiss collection society) both garnered awards for Outstanding Contribution by a Collecting Society towards the Establishment of SAMRO. PRS for Music loaned the R2000 seed capital to Dr. Gideon Roos Sr to establish SAMRO, while SUISA helped design and develop the organisation’s first documentation system. Respect was paid to the first SAMRO Board, comprising Mr. H. L. du Plessis, Mr. E. Gallo, Mr. W. S. G. Pope, Mr. T. Roering, Dr. Gideon Roos Sr, Mr. O. P. Taylor and Mr. H. L. Walter, who provided a strong foundation and a clear path forward for the organisation.
Individuals and past executives who have made an outstanding contribution towards the success of SAMRO were celebrated, with tribute paid to founder Dr. Gideon Roos Sr and his sons, lawyers Paul Roos and Gideon Roos Jr. In addition, awards were presented to former CEO Robert Hooijer, former deputy CEO Alan Johnston, as well as Gerard Robinson, the founding CEO/Managing Director of the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation. Publisher boardmember Geoff Paynter and writer board member Sipho Mabuse were also honoured during the awards.
SAMRO Chairman Annette Emdon received a Special Recognition Award for her immense contribution to SAMRO: her energy, verve, vision and her unswerving adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance and regulation.
The Founder’s Award was awarded posthumously to SAMRO founder Dr. Gideon Roos Sr, who left a legacy of formidable and magnetic leadership within the fields of broadcasting and copyright administration.
For media interview requests or access to photos of the event, please contact JT Comms and speak to Vanessa on 011 788 7631/2 or media@jtcomms.co.za
Raising their voices in traditional song, the SAMRO choir, under the deft hand of Prof Mzilikazi Khumalo, opened the SAMRO Builders’ Awards held on Wednesday. In celebrating its 50th anniversary, SAMRO honoured the people and organisations that have played an integral role in building it into Africa’s largest copyright administration and royalty collection organisation.
Renowned composer and performer Coenie de Villiers, who is also a SAMRO Board member, followed Prof Khumalo’s introduction with three of his own piano compositions, including the very first song he registered with SAMRO in 1973. Speaking at the event, SAMRO Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Motsatse said: “A day like this brings with it a deep sense of connectivity – of how, as people, our lives and destinies can be intertwined and connected. It brings into perspective how the decisions and actions taken at any one time can have an effect on generations to come.”
He went on to say that the Builders’ Awards were being held to express gratitude and recognise the role that each recipient had played in ensuring that a number of local composers, lyricists, authors and publishers are today able to have decent jobs and careers. The first category of awards, presented by SAMRO Chief Operations Officer Bronwen Harty, honoured SAMRO members, publishers and licensees.
Fittingly, the awards opened with the Class of ’62 Composers’ Award, which paid tribute to the first group of composers and authors elected to full membership at the inaugural SAMRO Board meeting in January 1962. They might not have known it at the time, but the Class of ’62 was forging the very foundations of SAMRO. Fifty years later, the ranks of the organisation have swelled to over 12 000 members. SAMRO thanked these pioneering artists for their creativity and belief in the fledgling collecting society.
The Class of ’62 Publisher’s Award acknowledged the first group of publishers who bravely transferred their copyright interests to SAMRO in 1962. Gallo Publishing was awarded the Longevity Award for a Publisher. Home to the cream of South African and African musical heritage, Gallo Music Publishing celebrated SAMRO’s golden anniversary as its longest serving publishing member. The Longevity Award for a Licensee was awarded to the SABC, which is SAMRO’s longest serving licensee.
It is a mutually beneficial relationship that has grown and faced tremendous change over the last five decades. The SABC remains a treasured SAMRO partner and stakeholder. Lifetime Member Achievement Awards were bestowed on David Daniel “Strike” Vilakazi, the composer of Meadowlands and the first black member of SAMRO, and globally renowned composer, arranger, choir director and music scholar of Prof Mzilikazi Khumalo.
Eminent art-music composer Professor Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph and much-loved jazz singer and composer Dorothy Masuku were also presented with Lifetime Member Achievement Awards. Princess Constance Magogo kaDinuzulu Buthelezi, a pioneer of women’s rights and a torchbearer for the preservation and development of traditional African music, was posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Member Achievement Award. In accepting the award on behalf of his mother and presenting SAMRO with a beautiful photographic image of Princess Magogo, the Honourable Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said: “Between Dr Gideon Roos Senior and Nicholas Motsatse lies a legacy built with many hands. I am proud to know that my mother was among those who built this legacy.”
The Staff Recognition Awards, presented by SAMRO Chief Financial Officer Greg Zoghby, acknowledged the key role that SAMRO’s committed, hard-working staff members have played in the success of the organisation. Long-Service Awards for Staff went to the following current employees: Helen Isaacs, who started working at SAMRO on 8 April 1980, Daniel Gerber (3 June 1970), Glenda Theron (18 February 1972) and Gerard Robinson (1 March 1973). Also acknowledged were past members of staff who had dedicated more than 30 years of service to SAMRO, including Michael Levy, Robert Mam-pane, Marius Louw and Mavule Setshoane.
The third and final category of awards was devoted to sister collection societies and past SAMRO Board members and executives. These accolades were presented by Motsatse. PRS for Music (a UK collection society) and SUISA (a Swiss collection society) both garnered awards for Outstanding Contribution by a Collecting Society towards the Establishment of SAMRO. PRS for Music loaned the R2000 seed capital to Dr. Gideon Roos Sr to establish SAMRO, while SUISA helped design and develop the organisation’s first documentation system. Respect was paid to the first SAMRO Board, comprising Mr. H. L. du Plessis, Mr. E. Gallo, Mr. W. S. G. Pope, Mr. T. Roering, Dr. Gideon Roos Sr, Mr. O. P. Taylor and Mr. H. L. Walter, who provided a strong foundation and a clear path forward for the organisation.
Individuals and past executives who have made an outstanding contribution towards the success of SAMRO were celebrated, with tribute paid to founder Dr. Gideon Roos Sr and his sons, lawyers Paul Roos and Gideon Roos Jr. In addition, awards were presented to former CEO Robert Hooijer, former deputy CEO Alan Johnston, as well as Gerard Robinson, the founding CEO/Managing Director of the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation. Publisher boardmember Geoff Paynter and writer board member Sipho Mabuse were also honoured during the awards.
SAMRO Chairman Annette Emdon received a Special Recognition Award for her immense contribution to SAMRO: her energy, verve, vision and her unswerving adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance and regulation.
The Founder’s Award was awarded posthumously to SAMRO founder Dr. Gideon Roos Sr, who left a legacy of formidable and magnetic leadership within the fields of broadcasting and copyright administration.
For media interview requests or access to photos of the event, please contact JT Comms and speak to Vanessa on 011 788 7631/2 or media@jtcomms.co.za
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