(018) 299-1692 [email protected]

Instrument(s) / Discipline(s):
Voice, African drums, Ethnomusicology.

Period of study at the NWU School of Music / PU for CHE Department of Music:
2004-2007.

Qualifications completed at the NWU / PU for CHE:
University Diploma in Music
BA Music & Society
Honours BA Music

Qualifications completed elsewhere:
Diploma in Music at Daystar University – Nairobi, Kenya
Diploma in Theology
MA in Ethnomusicology at Durham University, UK
PhD in Music (Ethnomusicology) at Durham University, UK

Peter Okeno

Peter Okeno with this wife, Jennipher, and his mother, Ruth.

Notable professional achievements:
1. Prepared two music curriculums for St Paul’s University
2. Wrote and recorded a song for English team for 2010 soccer world cup in South Africa
3. Recorded my first album

Current professional position / occupation:
Part Time lecturer at Daystar University
Part Time lecturer at St Paul’s University

Top 5 must-hear music:
1. Ethnomusicological studies have expanded my music appreciation, though music by Handel still resonates with me more
2. I would love to watch live performances of orchestras
3. Choral music in general from diverse countries
4. South African Jazz
5. Buena Vista and Cesarie Evora

Which personal music experience(s) are most memorable to you?
1. Performances with the Marimba Pukstix
2. Performances with the Serenaders and the tour to Germany
3. Performances with Ngoma Vuma Afrika and the tour to Netherlands

Peter Okeno

Top 5 must-read books:
1. Harmony in practice – not just read but study
2. Leadership 101: what every leader needs to know by John C Maxwell
3. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C Maxwell
4. How to read a book by Mortimer Adler
5. The Art of War and The richest man in Babylon

Favourite quote(s):
I have very many but the two current ones are:
1. “Publish or perish”
2. “One who does not know where he/she is coming from, might not know where he/she is going to”

Top 5 must-see movies:
I have watched very many movies. I currently do not have any preference. I just realised that I am not into much of sci-fi, and those greatly distanced from nature (e.g. people flying, karate, etc). I am rather analytical so the story boarding and the choice of character must be good for me to enjoy.

Which television show(s) can you watch over and over again?
CSI and NCSI, SWART.

Favourite food:
Chapati, diverse Kenyan traditional cooked vegetables, but not mushrooms and pumpkins.

Favourite drink(s):
Elder flower mixed with lemonade, Mango Juice and Soda Water.

How do you relax?
Either hanging out with family and/or friends; music activities or watching movies.

Family:
Wife: Jennipher, and daughter: Rehema.

Peter Okeno

Peter, Rehema, Jennipher

Which places would you still like to visit?
1. Many places in South Africa including Potchefstroom, Cape Town, Durban
2. Europe: Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic
3. Australia
4. USA – to see the last king of Rwanda
5. UK: Because I studied there and I miss the people and the place
6. Southern African countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi

What are your funniest / fondest memories of your time at the Conservatory?
• Most classes with Dirkie Nell were funny.
• When Waldo Weyer got angry because students did not practice piano enough.
• Music education classes when we had lecturers from Pretoria — they pronounced Phiwe as “fee-weh” and Tlale as “sh-lahleh”.