Winkie Dibakwane
Winkie Dibakwane
Choral music has again proved that it has the potential to unite the country's diverse groups.
For example, the popular Massed Choir Festival, a collaboration of several years between the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building project and Transnet, has always united young and old, black and white.
It is within this context that the International Convention Centre in Durban will host the Old Mutual/Telkom National Choir festival finals on December 8 ando 9. This should be a big feast for the lovers of this art form from Durban.
A total of 22 choirs from all the provinces will vie for a chance to be champions in their respective categories.
The choirs will be divided into three categories, a large category with 11 choirs, a standard category also with 11 choirs, and the champion of champions category where four choirs will battle to walk away with the coveted trophy in celebration of the competition's 30th anniversary.
The choirs and their provinces are: Standard category: Bel Canto Voices (Free State); Mdantsane United Voices (EC); Claremont Community Choir (KZN); Mbabane Methodist Choir (Swaziland); Chitungwiza Harmony Singers (Limpopo); North West University Choir (NW); Dolce Piacevole Choristers (FS); CPUT Bellville Choir (WC); Drakensberg Choristers (Mpumalanga); Taung UCY Choir (NC); Kopano Choral (Gauteng).
Large category: Manzini Choir (Swaziland); Giyani Adult Choir (Limpopo); Sivuyile Adult Choir (WC); SA Singers (KZN) Vae SA Kimberley Choir (NC); Thabong Serenade Choral Society (FS); Africa Sings (Mpumalanga); Harmonious Philharmonic Voices (EC); Sound of the Nation (Gauteng); Molopo Choral Artists (NW).
Champions category: East Coast Choristers (KZN); Joy of Africa (EC); Gauteng Choristers (Gauteng) and African Chorus (KZN).
The massed choir festival celebrates 30th anniversary in Durban
Winkie Dibakwane
Winkie Dibakwane
Choral music has again proved that it has the potential to unite the country's diverse groups.
For example, the popular Massed Choir Festival, a collaboration of several years between the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building project and Transnet, has always united young and old, black and white.
It is within this context that the International Convention Centre in Durban will host the Old Mutual/Telkom National Choir festival finals on December 8 ando 9. This should be a big feast for the lovers of this art form from Durban.
A total of 22 choirs from all the provinces will vie for a chance to be champions in their respective categories.
The choirs will be divided into three categories, a large category with 11 choirs, a standard category also with 11 choirs, and the champion of champions category where four choirs will battle to walk away with the coveted trophy in celebration of the competition's 30th anniversary.
The choirs and their provinces are: Standard category: Bel Canto Voices (Free State); Mdantsane United Voices (EC); Claremont Community Choir (KZN); Mbabane Methodist Choir (Swaziland); Chitungwiza Harmony Singers (Limpopo); North West University Choir (NW); Dolce Piacevole Choristers (FS); CPUT Bellville Choir (WC); Drakensberg Choristers (Mpumalanga); Taung UCY Choir (NC); Kopano Choral (Gauteng).
Large category: Manzini Choir (Swaziland); Giyani Adult Choir (Limpopo); Sivuyile Adult Choir (WC); SA Singers (KZN) Vae SA Kimberley Choir (NC); Thabong Serenade Choral Society (FS); Africa Sings (Mpumalanga); Harmonious Philharmonic Voices (EC); Sound of the Nation (Gauteng); Molopo Choral Artists (NW).
Champions category: East Coast Choristers (KZN); Joy of Africa (EC); Gauteng Choristers (Gauteng) and African Chorus (KZN).