Enjoy the crème de la crème of choral music
After a successful national tour that saw choirs belting out songs that could melt the hardest of hearts, the greatest choral music event on the continent is making its way to Carnival City.
The best of the best in South African choral music will compete for the biggest choral music title in the country at the 2014 Melting Pot National Choral Festival, a Tribute to OR Tambo.
With the grand prize of R500 000 at stake, choral music lovers should expect well-polished musical offerings.
The ever growing Melting Pot Choral Festival Competition will take place over two days, on October 18 and 19.
The increase in performances days is accompanied by an addition of other genres of entertainment by some of Mzansi’s top music artists and an addition of choirs from across the continent.
On the entertainment list will be the irresistible Sibongile Khumalo, Solly Mahlangu, Jaziel Brothers, Afro Tenors, Njabulo Madlala and Igrandi Tenori.
Dance floor king Zakes Bantwini and laugh till you drop queen Celeste Ntuli, the East Rand Male Symphony Choir Ekurhuleni, Mbizana Village EC and Fumana High School choirs will also keep the audience glued to their seats.
The Serumula Performing Arts Academy of Lesotho, His Majesty Correctional Services of Swaziland and Maseno University Choir of Kenya will also represent the African continent at the finals.
The Melting Pot Choral Festival Competition has grown to become one of the prime choral music events in the country and beyond.
With ground-breaking choral music workshops, choral music adjudicators from as far afield as Britain and the revival of choral music in Mpumalanga Province are just some of the successes notched in a short space of time.
This gathering of the crème de la crème of choral music is in honour of one of South Africa’s greatest sons, Oliver Reginald Tambo, who was a former choir conductor at St Peter’s School.
He was first introduced to formal music at Embhobeni, and it became a lifelong activity and hobby.
He was also a renowned choral music composer.
The Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation endorse this festival.
“Oliver Tambo loved classical and choral music and was an accomplished choir master,” said Mavuso Msimang, CEO of the Foundation.
Tambo recognised the critical role of culture in the struggle for liberation and encouraged the formation of cultural groups in exile camps, where freedom fighters lived.
“Embracing the Melting Pot National Festival Tribute to OR Tambo was thus the most natural thing to do for the Foundation,” said Msimang.
“There will be some unbelievable musical renditions, vocal and instrumental, by persons with disabilities.
“It’s an experience you have to see to fully appreciate.”
The Melting Pot National Choral Festival is presented by the City of Ekurhuleni as it celebrates OR Tambo Month in October.
Adding to the potpourri of sing and dance will be the acclaimed The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The top 10 competing choirs are Bagale Chorus, Zwelitsha Adult Choir, Heavenly Voices, Gauteng Choristers, Belcanto Voices, SA Singers, Transnet Port Terminals, Kopano Chorus, African Chorus and Thabong Serenade.
