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Top choral composers to get their recognition

KEYNOTE: Ali Mpofu and some of the choir members at the Sing Africa Sing event last year.
KEYNOTE: Ali Mpofu and some of the choir members at the Sing Africa Sing event last year.

TWO of the country's choral composers will be honoured at a Sing Africa Sing Choral Concert in the Durban City Hall on Sunday.

Phelelani Mnomiya and Qinisela Sibisi have contributed greatly to the growth of choral music.

Ali Mpofu of Ukhamba Productions, the brains behind the Sing Africa Sing concept, says it is important to honour outstanding choral music talent such as composers, musicians and legends.

"We honour them because they have nurtured this art form here in Africa," he says.

"I have noticed that choral music is the backbone of various genres. Some of our musicians and singers come from a choral background before they broke into mainstream jazz."

Renowned choirs, such as Durban Serenades, Sounds of Joy Chorale, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, Clermont Community, African Chorus and Mayibuye iAfrica - accompanied by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra - will perform.

Mnomiya is a lecturer in choral music studies at the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal and has composed songs for schools and adult choirs.

Sibisi was born in KwaMashu in 1963 and wrote the first movement of the Zulu Mass (the Kyrie- Nkosi Sihawukele) in 1989. He wrote Shayani Izandla Zizwe Zonke in 2010 and it was performed for the first time last year.

The concert starts at 2pm and tickets are available at Computicket.

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