College’s largest intake of youngsters enjoy their first day of magic school

A wand handover ceremony, a whirlwind mansion tour and the recital of the mysterious Magician’s Code amazed more than sixty of Cape Town’s aspiring magicians as they began their magical education at the College of Magic in Claremont on Saturday 28 January, 2017.

The Mother City’s brightest young wizards-to-be, from ages 10 to 16, and hailing from Gugulethu to Grassy Park, Hout Bay and more, have the proud distinction of being the College’s largest new student intake in its nearly 40 year history. 

Forget Hogwarts’ hat sorting ceremony - at the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the wizarding newbies are sorted into Course One and  the Magic and Showmanship Course where they will be taught the basics of magic, presentation skills, patter, and how to entertain an audience. 

Course One runs for 15 weeks while the Magic and Showmanship Course is 30 weeks long. Lessons are held on Saturdays during the school term. 

The first day of lessons included a look behind the wizard’s curtain as the students were led on a tour of the College of Magic’s mysterious Victorian manor. In addition to providing host classrooms for more than 200 students each Saturday, the century old building is home to Africa’s largest magical museum, the continent’s premier magic shop and the wondrous Imagination Centre where the College’s popular festivals and events are held. 

One of this year’s impressive recruits is ten-year-old Kiara Davids, a former marching band enthusiast, from Grassy Park. The multi-talented prodigy is thrilled to be learning magic: 

“I think magic is incredible and I can’t wait to come back to the College every week to learn something cool!” 

Hout Bay’s Samuel Peters (12) has loved magic since the age of 2 and has been watching magic tricks on YouTube because he’s been too young to join the College of Magic before. Now that he is of age and a College student, he is eager to fulfill his magical dreams: 

“I’ve learnt some pretty mind blowing tricks on my first day at the College and I can’t wait to learn more so that I can be as amazing as world-famous magician Dynamo, my magical role model”, says the youngster. 

In addition to teaching magic effects, the College offers a variety of the allied arts (juggling, mime and clowning, puppetry). A rising juggling star is Anathi Fodo(10), from Gugulethu who, on his first day, was already impressing fellow students and teachers with his gravity-defying clubs routine: 

“Juggling is one of the better known allied arts and I want to be the best in it. I’m looking forward to improving my balancing skills over the next few months!” said the dexterous youth. 

Much like the amazing world of Harry Potter, performing magic is passed down through generations of a family like Hout Bay’s mother and daughter magical duo Leonie Mollentze, a College of Magic alumnus, and Heidi van Wyk. 

Heidi (10), who attends Kronendal Primary and is a budding synchronised swimming star, is following in her mom’s trained magician footsteps this year: “My mom does amazing children’s magic like balloon modelling and vanishing effects, but I really want to learn all of the dazzling card magic tricks, as well as ventriloquism. I can’t wait to get started!” 

The mischievous foursome and their new classmates had just enough time during their first lesson to choose a magic wand and learn their first wand effect of the year - how to make the wand float - before reciting the all-important Magician’s Code. The code, amongst other things, is a promise to never reveal the secrets of magic to “muggles”! 

The College of Magic, which has been teaching the theatrical performing art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults since 1980, is pleased with the first day’s new student turnout: 

“We’ve been amazed at the high rate of registration this year and the number of learners who are eager to learn the art of performing magic. I can promise our new students that they are in for the most amazing experience of their lives!” says David Gore, the director of the College of Magic.

Registration for the second intake of Course One for the year will open in July 2017. For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call 27(0)21 683 5480.

Amidst a flurry of glitter fireworks and cries of jubilation, two of Cape Town’s most beguiling teens, Jamian Fortune and Vuyolwethu Foslara, were crowned the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships winners at Milnerton High on Sunday 18 September, 2016!

Hosted by the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships was a thrilling showdown, testing the mettle of eleven of the province’s most talented teen wizards in the art of magic but there could only be two winners: Fortune (19) from Bishop Lavis took top honours in the Close-Up magic category while Foslara (18) from Khayelitsha snagged the Stage magic title.  

Fortune held spectators in thrall with his comedic repartee and blink-and-you-miss-it sleights and card effects while Foslara paired his love of watching flowers grow with a passion for grand illusions in a fascinating florist magic act.  

The charming duo’s imaginative acts and hard work paid off, captivating the attention and approval of celebrity judges and star graduates of the College of Magic, Francis Chouler, Marcel Pretorius, Stuart Taylor and Sithembele Tyutula.  

Fortune, a burgeoning tech whizz and first time Championships competitor, is thrilled with his achievement:  

“This is just unbelievable! I always enjoy the reactions my performance gets from audiences but to be recognised for it by such a prestigious panel of judges is a real honour.”  

Foslara, an accomplished performer who has previously competed in the 2014 edition of the Championships, adds:

“Winning the Stage Magician Championship title is a dream come true for me and proof that with magic, anything is possible! I look forward to sharing my winning act with the world.”  

The terrific twosome, who can now proudly lay claim to the prestigious Championships titles as well opportunities to perform at international magical events, accepted their awards, alongside runners-up Xolile Dyani (19), from Khayelitsha, in the Close- Up Championships and Caitlin Hutchison (15), from Claremont, in the Stage Championships.

Further awards presented were the Supreme Trophy for Up-and-Coming Junior Magician which went to Sonwabile Mekuto(19), from Delft and the people’s choice Street Magician of the Year title was won by Siyamthanda Mzangwa (21), from Khayelitsha.  

In addition to the thrilling contests, audiences were treated to a special musical guest performance led on the keyboard  by Olwethu Dyantyi, the 2015 South African Magic and Grand Prix Magic Champion. Dyantyi, a College of Magic alumnus who has dazzled audiences in theatres in Las Vegas, Italy and China, is currently the star of Coca-Cola’s One Brand “Taste the Magic” ad.  

Celebrating 36 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2016, the College of Magic is a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world. The College has been hosting the Championships for more than 30 years.  

“This year’s competition was a tough one and we are so incredibly proud of all of the contestants. Jamian and Vuyolwethu are worthy winners and we can’t wait to see which amazing feats they’ll conjure in the future!” says David Gore, director of the College of Magic.  

For more information about the College of Magic and the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.

The ultimate battle of the wands kicks off in the Mother City this September!

Eleven provincial teen wizards will be locked in the ultimate battle of the wands when the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships is hosted at Milnerton High School  on Sunday 18 September, 2016!

Hosted by the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships is billed as the ultimate battle of the wands, testing the mettle of young magicians in the quick-fingered art of Close-up Magic and the grandiose illusionary techniques of Stage Magic.

Forget Hogwarts’ Triwizard Cup - the Championships contestants are vying for the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician title, top honours and opportunities to perform at international magical events!

As the competitive spirit reaches an all-time wizardly high, Milnerton High School will be transformed into the ultimate magical battle ground with the Close-Up event at 2pm and the Stage contest at 4pm.

In addition to these charming events, audiences can see street buskers throw down the magical gauntlet in the Street Magic Contest, showing off their impressive skills in card magic, puppetry, coin effects, juggling and balloon-modelling.

Celebrating 36 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2016, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, is thrilled to once again host the not-to-be-missed Western Cape Junior Magician Championships:

“The Championships event is a fantastic platform for our young magicians to get a taste of what it is like to compete professionally in the world of magic. I’ve had a sneak peek at the creative acts our contestants are preparing and they are incredible. Join us and see them for yourselves! ”says College of Magic director David Gore.

Tickets for the Championships start from R100 and are available at www.collegeofmagic.com/tickets.For more information about the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, please contact the

College of Magic on +27 (0) 21 683 5480 or visit www.collegeofmagic.com.