The Mangaung String Program is a string music development program initiated by the Free State Musicon in July 1997 under the directorship of Peter Guy, which targets children from historically disadvantaged backgrounds from various districts within the Free State.
Tuition takes place in group formats at selected primary schools in the mornings and then continues with more specialized tuition at the Free State Musicon in the afternoons. Orchestras practice on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings at the Musicon. Tuition is provided by staff members of partnering institutions in addition to music students and interns from within the program, as well as hourly tuition based on sponsorship. Each pupil pays a modest fee of R50 a month. This covers tuition, instruments, repairs, teaching materials and transport. The program operates a bus service, which runs 6 days a week. There are 5 orchestras, based on ability which all use the name Bochabela. The Bochabela String Orchestra, which is the senior orchestra made up of high school and university age students rehearses on Saturdays and the 4 younger Bochabela Orchestras practice on Friday afternoons. There are currently over 350 pupils in the MSP.