H-Metro
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HARARE-based sound engineer, Gloria Saungweme, is proud to be celebrating her milestone during Women’s Month.
Gloria, who honed her skills at Orchestra Mberikwazvo for years, hailed Alick Macheso for giving her an opportunity to shine.
She is now an accomplished sound engineer.
“I am now an international sound engineer who passed through the Zimbabwe Music Crossroads Academy.
“I studied sound engineering at NATCAZ as well as the training and conferencing of the arts at the same institution.
“During my attachment with Alick Macheso’s Orchestra Mberikwazvo band, he recommended that I get a job because my sound engineering skills were out of this world.
“He then persuaded me to start working for his band, which I served from 2007-2012.
“I got an opportunity to work with different international artists, especially during the Harare International Festival of Arts, as an assistant sound engineer.”
She said she was grateful for the exposure she got on the big occasions.
“Internationally, I worked at Lake of Stars Malawi as a sound engineer, Bagamoyo International Arts Festival in Tanzania, HIFA, as well as at Edzai Isu Trust, as head of sound and technical department.
“Locally, I worked with Red Rose Promotions, Presdom Promotions, Frontran Promotions.
“I have also done sound engineering for Nicholas Zakaria, Koffi Olomide, Brenda Fassie, Vee from Botswana, Oliver Mtukudzi, the Charambas, Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, Freddy Gwala and many reggae, country and Zimdancehall artists.
“At Music Crossroads Academy, I studied instrument building and repairing courses and worked there for a year after I finished my studies.
“I attended several international and regional audio engineering master classes and workshops at Music Crossroads academies both in Zimbabwe and Malawi respectively.
“Currently, I am working as a freelance sound engineer and manager of True Bantu Tribe Band.”
Despite her success, Gloria said she will continue upgrading herself.
“I will also further my studies at Music Crossroads Academy in Audio Engineering, just to keep myself up to date with new digital engineering technology.
“Now, I am an internationally tried-and-tested sound engineer.”
Gloria, who is also the founding chairperson of the Sound Engineering Society of Zimbabwe, urged fellow women to venture into male dominated fields.
“In any industry, it doesn’t matter whether you are a man or woman but knowledge is power.
“Knowledge has empowered me to be where I am today as well as being able to help others.
‘’I have offered my skills to youthful artists where I get an opportunity to warn them against drug abuse and risky sexual behaviour,” she said.
In line with the women’s month commemorations, Gloria said she had every reason to celebrate.
“I am celebrating my sound engineering achievements because I am now the Zolitunes and Noutub Music software distributor in Zimbabwe and the only female distributor of this new application.
“It was designed by 40-year-old sound engineer Ephraim Rateiwa.”
Originally from Malawi, the mother of one, was raised in a musical family.
