Township youngster awarded magical scholarship from international magic legends Siegfried and Roy

It’s been a magical year of note for young township junior magician Sesona Gagana - not only has he recently returned from representing South Africa’s magical youth on a whirlwind educational tour of Las Vegas and New York, but he was also awarded the much-coveted Siegfried and Roy Foundation Scholarship at the College of Magic’s annual graduation on Saturday 17 November 2018.

The 15-year-old teen illusionist from Khayelitsha is an ardent student of the magical arts who voraciously absorbs everything he can learn about close-up magic, stage magic, juggling and mime and clowning during his weekly lessons at the College of Magic, the only magical arts organisation of its kind in the world, in Claremont.

Each year, the College of Magic, now in its 38th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults, honours its exemplary students at two graduation ceremonies, one for the junior and one for the senior students.

As part of their annual SARMOTI Grant to the College of Magic, Siegfried and Roy present a bursary in the form of a full year’s tuition to a most deserving senior student. The Siegfried and Roy Scholarship is awarded this year to Gagana as the most deserving Course 5 student for his excellent achievements. This magical allrounder goes into his final year of training at the College of Magic in 2019.

Having met Siegfried, one half of the world-renowned illusionist duo on his recent visit to Las Vegas, Gagana is absolutely thrilled with his scholarship:

“Magic has transformed my life so much this year. Travelling overseas for the first time and meeting my magical heroes was a dream come true and now I’ve been awarded this scholarship! Thank you so much to Siegfried and Roy and to the College - I promise to make you all so proud of me!”, says the excited teen magician.

The College of Magic,a non-profit organisation, is equally pleased with this honour:

“We are committed to helping our young students realise their dreams through the art of magic. To have two of magic’s most iconic performers support this initiative and assist us in helping Sesona achieve the impossible is an absolute privilege and honour“, says Yolandi van Jaarsveldt, CEO of the College of Magic.

As the top senior juggler at the College of Magic, Gagana was also awarded the Senior Juggling Shield - another award to be proud of and to encourage him to strive for excellence in his Course 6 year in 2019.

Experience the impossible with the College of Magic in 2019:

An enchanting new learning adventure awaits aspiring Harry Potters who would like to follow in Sesona’s footsteps as the College of Magic welcomes new wizardry recruits to its beginners' programme, Course One, from Saturday 26 January 2019!

Course One will see the magicians-in-training explore the world of magic through a 15 week exciting and intensive diploma course which includes rope magic, card tricks and coin effects as well as an introduction to the allied arts, namely  juggling, mime, clowning and puppetry.This entry level course is suitable for learners aged 10 to 13 years old.

Course One will run at the College of Magic, 215 Imam Haron Road (previously Lansdowne Road) in Claremont each Saturday for six months from Saturday 26 January 2019 with classes at 09h00 and at 12h00. Fees are R 2950 and include all course equipment and notes, as well as participation in any or all of the allied arts on offer.

Registration for the College of Magic’s 2019 Course One is now open. Call +27 (0) 21 683 5480 or send an email to info@collegeofmagic.com to secure your booking.

For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.