A MacPhail Journey to South Africa
This past April, a group from MacPhail’s Global Music Initiative traveled to South Africa with the goal of growing as educators, deepen our craft, and bring something meaningful back to the community we serve. Read more about the experience and watch a beautiful video of the journey.
PART 1: Arrival: A Welcome in Harmony
When we talk about music as community, as language, as culture—we don’t mean that metaphorically. We mean it literally. We saw it. We felt it. And it started the moment we stepped off the plane.
The Global Music Initiative team that traveled to South Africa brought more than just instruments—we brought stories, vision, and a shared commitment to the kind of music that builds bridges. Each member of this cohort carried something essential:
- Dr. Christopher Rochester – composer, educator, and founder of the Global Music Initiative. The architect of this journey, and the vision behind the work.
- Caitlynn Daniels – a vocalist with deep roots in classical and soul traditions. Her voice carries power, emotion, and clarity that transcends genre.
- Arthur “LA” Buckner – drummer, educator, and rhythmic force. LA holds space and groove with intention, grounding the team in Black music and cultural continuity.
- Stokley Williams – Grammy-nominated artist and frontman of Mint Condition. A living legend and mentor whose presence brought weight and wisdom to the trip.
- MMYYKK (Myke Fisher) – producer, artist, and videographer. MMYYKK’s lens and sound bring layered dimensions to the experience, capturing not just what happened, but how it felt.
Together, we stepped into South Africa with open minds—but what met us cracked our hearts open.
As we moved through Cape Town’s airport, we were met by voices—not overhead announcements, but song. The members of 29:11 were there waiting, singing to us, for us. Their harmonies wrapped around us like a warm wind. It was music as embrace, culture as welcome. We didn’t need to introduce ourselves—we had already been seen.
In that moment, we weren’t just visitors. We were invited into something sacred: a space of belonging, trust, and shared purpose. Not because of what we do, but because of who we are.
This was how our journey began—with open arms, open voices, and a sense that we weren’t just arriving… we were returning.
At GMI, we believe music is more than sound—it’s story, it’s space, and it’s a way of being in relationship with the world. This moment with 29:11 wasn’t just a welcome; it was a reminder of why we do this work. We’re not here to impose, extract, or impress. We’re here to listen, to learn, and to co-create.
That belief—that music is a meeting place—will guide every step of this journey. And as we continue to share what unfolded across South Africa, you’ll see that this isn’t about performance. It’s about presence. It’s about remembering that the most powerful music isn’t just played—it’s shared.
There’s more to come. More voices. More stories. More ways of showing that music, when rooted in community, can do more than entertain. It can transform.
Part 2: Reflections from South Africa:
There’s no single way to summarize what happened during our time in South Africa—but maybe that’s the point. This wasn’t a one-time event. It was the start of something deeper: a conversation, a connection, and a commitment to using music as a way to see one another more fully.
We traveled not just to perform or to teach, but to listen, to be disrupted, and to reimagine what music education can look like when it’s rooted in mutual respect, cultural truth, and creative possibility. Alongside local musicians, students, and educators, we found ourselves stepping into a new rhythm—one that challenged our assumptions and expanded our sense of what’s possible.
There’s more to say. More stories to tell. And in time, we’ll share them—not just as memories, but as the foundation for where this work goes next.
At the Global Music Initiative, this is more than a trip—it’s proof of concept. And we’re just getting started.