"You can't build a business without building the team." David Sonnenberg
The Diemersfontein business and its owners, David and Susan Sonnenberg, have a long history of contributing to addressing social needs. During recent years this has included:
A decision has recently been made to focus the efforts and resources to achieve these social development objectives through the establishment of the new Trust viz. the "Excellence out of Africa Trust", which is currently being registered.
The specific aims of the Trust would be :
A number of benefit concerts have been organized both locally and abroad in an effort to provide financial assistance to talented musicians and thereby enable them to further develop their talents and advance their musical careers. One of the most recent events at Diemersfontein was "Pretty Yende" and her group of superb singers. During last year Pretty Yende (at the age of 24) achieved a world first when she won all the top prizes in the prestigious International Hans Gabor Belvedere Chamber Music Singing Competition (which attracted 3,000 participants from 50 countries) in Vienna, Austria. She sang duets with Andrea Bocelli at the recent World Cup closing concert that was staged at the Dome in Johannesburg on 9 July 2010.
The Excellence out of Africa Trust
A decision has recently been made to focus the efforts and resources to achieve these social development objectives through the establishment of the new Trust viz. the "Excellence out of Africa Trust", which is currently being registered.
The specific aims of the Trust would be :
- Fundraising for study and travel fees for artists and musicians of excellence, to enable them to develop their careers locally and internationally
- To provide a platform for artists to develop their profession through arranging events, concerts, master classes
- To assist others in the search for new and developing talent
- To provide the structure through which previous beneficiaries of support can contribute to the development of younger talented people
- To fund sportsmen or students of excellence in any academic discipline
- To provide and seek financial support for learners at Wellington Prep School or any other educational institution
Supporting talented musicians
A number of benefit concerts have been organized both locally and abroad in an effort to provide financial assistance to talented musicians and thereby enable them to further develop their talents and advance their musical careers. One of the most recent events at Diemersfontein was "Pretty Yende" and her group of superb singers. During last year Pretty Yende (at the age of 24) achieved a world first when she won all the top prizes in the prestigious International Hans Gabor Belvedere Chamber Music Singing Competition (which attracted 3,000 participants from 50 countries) in Vienna, Austria. She sang duets with Andrea Bocelli at the recent World Cup closing concert that was staged at the Dome in Johannesburg on 9 July 2010.