Alberton Choir to represent South Africa at prestigious Barcelona festival

Alberton’s Harmonia Girls’ Choir has been selected to represent South Africa at the prestigious Golden Voices of Barcelona, an international choir competition from July 13 to 17 in Spain.

The Golden Voices of Barcelona is a world-renowned choral festival hosted by Fiesta Melonia, welcoming both professional and amateur choirs from more than 60 countries.

Participants compete on an international stage, attend workshops and perform in friendly and gala concerts at iconic venues across Barcelona, including performances at the breathtaking Sagrada Familia.

This year, 20 members of the Harmonia Girls’ Choir have been invited to attend.

For many of them, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but financial constraints now stand in the way of some being able to go.

“Some of our girls cannot afford to go. We are so close, but a few still need help. Even R5 000 per child would go a long way,” said Ida Strydom, conductor of Harmonia Girls’ Choir.

Part of a bigger vision

The Harmonia Girls’ Choir is part of the Cantare Children’s Choir, a registered non-profit organisation based in Gauteng.

Since its first rehearsal on January 12, 1995, Cantare has grown into one of South Africa’s most recognised children and youth choral organisations, providing musical training and life-changing opportunities to young voices aged six to 24 from over 40 schools across the greater Ekurhuleni District.

The organisation is home to the Cantare Concert Choir, Harmonia Girls’ Choir, Dulcet Sweet Voices, and development choirs in Thokoza, Katlehong and Thembisa.

It also runs a community music project in Soweto, focused on nurturing talent and transforming lives through the power of music.

In 2004, Cantare expanded its reach through development choirs in historically underserved areas supported by the National Lottery Commission.

These choirs act as vital pipelines of young talent, with standout singers graduating into the main concert and touring choirs each year.

The Harmonia Girls’ Choir (ages 14-24) is one of Cantare’s flagship ensembles, a vibrant award-winning group that has travelled internationally and earned accolades on stages in Spain, Wales and Slovakia.

A dream delayed, now revived

This trip to Spain has been years in the making.

In 2019, the choir planned to join the Cantare Choir on a tour to Italy, but the outbreak of Covid-19 forced them to cancel.

Three of the girls who were set to travel then are still part of the group today.

“They never missed a rehearsal. They stayed committed all these years,” Strydom said.

The choir will compete in the gospel and traditional folklore categories.

In 2016, they earned a 100% score for folklore at the same competition. They also won gold medals in Bratislava and Wales.

Singing in a sacred space

The girls are especially excited about performing in the iconic Sagrada Familia, the still-unfinished masterpiece designed by architect Antoni Gaudí.

“There is a museum about Gaudí’s life and work, but sadly we had to cut visits like that from our plans because it costs over R1 000 per person,” Strydom said.

While most of the 20 members managed to cover some travel costs, two still need help, and the group is short on funds for meals, local transport and cultural visits.

“We are grateful for every donation, big or small,” Strydom said.

“Even something like pocket money helps these girls enjoy the experience.”

How to help

If you would like to donate or sponsor a child, contact Ida Strydom at 073 232 0941 or donate to their BackaBuddy campaign.