IN CONVERSATION WITH MR ROBERT BROOKS
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The Music Is A Great Investment (MIAGI) Youth Orchestra has spent
the past 25 years transforming the lives of young people from township
communities through music, education, and global exposure.
Founded to create access to classical and orchestral music for young
South Africans who would otherwise be excluded from these spaces,
MIAGI has become one of the country’s most successful cultural export
stories. Its alumni have gone on to perform on some of the world’s
biggest stages, including the Berlin Philharmonic and other international
concert halls.
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, MIAGI is marking this milestone
with a series of exclusive interviews and studio sessions featuring
founder Robert Brooks alongside Wits-adjacent township talents Viwe
Mkizwana, Tsepo Tsotetsi, and William Nobela — artists who began
their journeys in under-resourced communities and went on to build
global careers.
Beyond music, MIAGI’s work speaks to broader issues facing South
African youth: lack of access to opportunities, underfunded arts
education, and the need for alternative pathways to success outside of
traditional academic and economic routes.
Their story is not just about performance — it’s about how cultural
investment can rewrite futures, build confidence, and create international
pathways for township youth.
11:30
We now explore how MIAGI built this movement, what it means for
young people today, and why arts development matters in a country
facing deep inequality.
the past 25 years transforming the lives of young people from township
communities through music, education, and global exposure.
Founded to create access to classical and orchestral music for young
South Africans who would otherwise be excluded from these spaces,
MIAGI has become one of the country’s most successful cultural export
stories. Its alumni have gone on to perform on some of the world’s
biggest stages, including the Berlin Philharmonic and other international
concert halls.
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, MIAGI is marking this milestone
with a series of exclusive interviews and studio sessions featuring
founder Robert Brooks alongside Wits-adjacent township talents Viwe
Mkizwana, Tsepo Tsotetsi, and William Nobela — artists who began
their journeys in under-resourced communities and went on to build
global careers.
Beyond music, MIAGI’s work speaks to broader issues facing South
African youth: lack of access to opportunities, underfunded arts
education, and the need for alternative pathways to success outside of
traditional academic and economic routes.
Their story is not just about performance — it’s about how cultural
investment can rewrite futures, build confidence, and create international
pathways for township youth.
11:30
We now explore how MIAGI built this movement, what it means for
young people today, and why arts development matters in a country
facing deep inequality.
