Watch: The Pha Real Voices dream comes true – for real
Local school overwhelmed by win.
Appearing on stage with an international superstar is the thing dreams are made of…
For 15 lucky Colin Mann Primary School students, however, it’s about to become a reality.
The young members of the school’s singing group named the Pha Real Voices are excitedly preparing for the biggest highlight of their musical careers – performing on stage at a private concert for 5 000 Woolworths WRewards customers with Pharrell Williams.
The concert will take place later this month; dates have not been released for security reasons.
This opportunity forms part of the MySchool Sing With Us competition prize, a strategic collaboration between Woolworths and the Grammy Award-winning musician.
Pharrell, American singer-songwriter, producer, fashion designer and philanthropist, hand-picked the group from 10 finalists, after local judges Jon Savage, Katlego Maboe and Theo Crous had whittled down over 200 entries to just 10.
In addition to appearing on stage with Pharrell, the students won R100 000 for their school.
These funds will be used to renovate the school hall, which was built over 55 years ago and is badly in need of a makeover.
SABC3 Expresso presenter Katlego Maboe announced that the group, made up of Derryn Taylor, Karabo Mokou, Njabulo Mdhlalose, Mpendulo Magagula, Mohale Molefe, Musa Mthembu, Gontse Magakwe, Lerato Phali, Tshegofatso Phasha, Natalie Pieterse, Tariro Hairwadzi, Nancy Chimtondo, Lesego Mokae, Andrea Augustine and Thatohatsi Molefi, had won at a packed school assembly last Wednesday.
The students, who thought they were being filmed simply as one of the top three finalists, were elated to hear they were the overall winners.
The group believes that a winning combination of their song ‘Just the Way You Are’, several musical disciplines, talented voices, team work and dedicated planning, gave them an edge over the other competitors.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our children.
“We did not just enter a song, but added a storyline to it highlighting our anti-bullying programme at the school,” said Marina le Roux, school principal.
“The song, chosen by group coordinator Margaret Klopper, seemed to be a great choice to let all the children know that no matter how different you may be, each and every one is special in their own way.”
Le Roux credits Klopper, Natasha Gorden (assistant choreographer), Marimba band instructor Andria Oosthuizen (the “cup” coach) and the children for their amazing team work.
“The whole school has come together to make this possible,” le Roux said.
“The children have even received beautiful cards made by their fellow students to congratulate them, they are mini- celebrities,” said Gorden.
After the initial shock of being named the winners, it’s all systems go at Colin Mann Primary School, to make sure the Pha Real Voices are ready for their once-in-a-life time performance.
Watch the winning video here:
