Rwanda Rising videos, links & pics

Videos, Links & Pics

Wait till you hear what's happening in Rwanda. You'll love it! Check out our videos.
And scroll down to see our new picture galleries.

New Videos 2017

Green Hills Academy - National Band Tour 2017 - Each year the GHA Top Band goes on tour as ambassadors of the growth of music education in Rwanda. Highlights included the mix of the GHA girls traditional drumming team performing with the Top Band. A first in Rwanda! Embracing the fusion of tradition and new growth.

Injyana Ensembles concert 2017 - "Rwanda's Injyana" - The Injyana Orchestra Rwanda, the Injyana Jazz Big Band, and the introduction of the new uniforms for the Injyana Community Band.

1st Annual Kigali Band Festival 2017 - this is a performance of the 120 combined band members of Kigali International Community School and Green Hills Academy playing together 'Tu Ungane' - great fun!

Special Injyana Surprise! - The Injyana Orchestra Rwanda puts a new twist on Haydn's Surprise Symphony with 4 student guest conductors! Fun and cute, a must-see!

Promo video of April 2nd Injyana Concert -featuring Pacis Ndahiro, Rwanda's first classical piano soloist! See full highlight video above of the 2017 Concert.

RWANDA RISING (new music in Rwanda)

This is our main video. It demonstrates the work that has gone on since 2011 as well as the needs ahead of us.

Injyana Camp 2015! Watch our very fun review of 2 weeks of music camp in Kigali, Rwanda. Week 1 was for beginners, and the 2nd week for intermediate musicians.

*Check out our photo gallery below

Injyana Ensembles 2015-2016 promo video!

Fast moving and fun - shows highlights from previous performances, and outreach efforts including Injyana camp and the new string program at Urukundo.

Join the Gaskill on safari! - actually, we mean literally!! After watching this video you'll want to come visit us in Rwanda. The amazing Akegera Game Park is only about 2 hours from our house.

Urukundo Project This is a video of our latest project (2015) toward the development of the new Music & Arts Center at the Urukundo Home for Children

Injyana Ensembles (promo video '14-'15)

An overview / advertisement for the Injyana Ensembles - Inspirational, community music groups in Kigali, Rwanda.

Tribute to Rwanda

Grace Gaskill soloing with the Injyana Orchestra Rwanda, performing "Defiance" in honor of Rwanda's 19th Genocide Commeration Week.

The Rwanda Band Box Project (2014)

Watch the excitment in this brief 1 min. "Thank you" video for all who contributed. See more of the story on our blog page, and more pictures below in the gallery.

Important Links

Grace's Blog is a must read. Our daughter now a professional writing major at University of Northwestern in St. Paul captures the reader in a gentle cadence of humor, wonder, and profound spiritual insight.

Turns Out You Do Need Grace

Green Hills Academy - Kigali, Rwanda. - where Lance is on staff as director of music since 2014.

The Gaskills in Rwanda (2012 - 13)

A review of our ministry in Rwanda (Grace graduating, football games, and plenty of music...)

KICS Band Tour 2013

The bands from Kigali International Community School go on tour (Africa style). You'll love the Rwandan student at the end as guest conductor.

Green Hills Academy

vist the Gaskill's missions agency - Artists in Christian Testimony International.

Below is a link to our blog. Sorry, it's a bit out of date. The best way to stay up to date with the Gaskill's ministry in Rwanda is through our email updates. See the contact links on the 'Let's Connect' page.

A.C.T. Intl

G Notes

Picture Gallery

Injyana Camp 2015 - Highlights

Injyana Camp learning the violin	final outdoor performance week 2
rising stars Rwandan musicians	percussion class
Agape on French Horn	more air!
Fun & Games mass rock - paper - scissors	Injyana Camp Staff two short-termers from the U.S., the Gaskills, and our local musician friends
trip out to Urukundo Describe your image here	trip out to Urukundo everybody pile on Grace!
tea time Describe your image here	supercali...fragi...listic...
more fun and games	the amazing relay race!
learning instruments trombone class	learning instruments flute class
Injyana Camp if it's music camp, you've gotta play outside!

Highlights from the beginning of the Green Hills Academy Band

(started August, 2014)

Great start! Beginning Band is available at Green Hills from the 5th grade up through the 12th grade.	Thank you for the donations! Angel receives her flute
115 new band students! All classes are full, most with waiting lists	Great Opportunity Green Hills is only the 2nd school in Rwanda to have a band program
Beautiful smiles members of the 6th grade band	Excepting the challenge It is a challenge and a privilege to learn an instrument in Rwanda (actually, anywhere)
Good instrumentation We have 2 oboists!	Filling out the sound even a Bari and a Bass Clarinet!
Eventually a trombone choir 6 of the 16 trombones started at Green Hills	Some of our Biblical instruments Many nationalities are included in the Green Hills bands
Low Brass Currently, Green Hills has 5 tuba players!

Pics from our trip up to New York (Feb. 12-19, 2014) visiting family as well as establishing relationships with Victory Highway Wesleyan, United Methodist Church Livonia, and Houghton College.

Houghton College Wind Ensemble bringing out the lively rhythms in Grantham's "Spangled Heavens"	Houghton College Wind Ensemble great rehearsal space
Houghton College Wind Ensemble Did you know that the String Bass is often included in Wind Ensemble instrumentation.	Houghton College Wind Ensemble trumpets?!? :)
Houghton College Wind Ensemble oops - "I'm just learning to read music"	Houghton Music Ed students Jen and Lance sharing about being called to the mission field.
Houghton Music Ed students The students were well engaged and asked excellent, thoughtful questions. We hope to see some of them on short-term music mission trips to Kigali eventually!	Sunday morning at UMC Livonia Adam and Lance playing a Bach duet for offertory
sledding with cousins Adam catching air	sledding with cousins brothers - double double
sledding with cousins everyone at once! - even Stella (the dog)	sledding with cousins Way to go Miles! Cousin Samuel and Miles jumped the furthest - 15 ft. (and had the most sore bums too)!