STAFFERS feel truly appreciated through the yearly Transnet Foundation Internal Choirs Competition, said Jannie Mathyese, who is its national choirs coordinator.

STAFFERS feel truly appreciated through the yearly Transnet Foundation Internal Choirs Competition, said Jannie Mathyese, who is its national choirs coordinator.

"On competition day we are one, irrespective of rank, status, qualification or position, let alone cultural or other differences," Mathyese said this week.

Mathyese is also a founder of the competition's reigning champions, the Eastern Cape-based internal choir, boasting 60 members ranging in age 22 to 49.

The choir will participate in the 2009 edition of the competition in Johannesburg on October 10. The yearly Transnet Foundation and Sowetan Massed Choir Festival takes place at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg on October 25 .

The internal choir will share the stage with several other winning choirs, soloists, a nation-building orchestra and guest artists.

The champions are the Matthews Singers, Belcanto Voices, Gauteng Choristers and South African Police Service Choir. Also taking part are equally competent festival regulars, Vaal Choristers, African Sweet Melodies, Mogale City Chorale and East Rand Chorale and soloists Andiswa Makana, singing soprano and mezzo sopranos Tina Mene and Ebenezer Sawuli.

Nhlanhla Nciza and Theo Kgosinkwe of the popular Mafikizolo are our guest artists this year. - Victor Mecoamere