LIMPOPO – A Phalaborwa choir has struck the right notes and is making a name for themselves by bagging multiple trophies at various competitions.

Phalaborwa Choral Artists was established in June this year by Ditsoanelo Malapane, an award-winning conductor.

Malapane is also a teacher and a choir conductor at Rethabile Primary School, the current Limpopo school choir champions and also a national bronze medalist. Choir members are mostly current and former Rethabile choristers.

Malapane told the Herald he started the community choir to preserve and foster the talent of the choristers. “We only have primary and secondary learners in the group; they are still young and can be trained and hopefully take it up further. The young ones are respectful and listen when you talk, unlike adults who have many commitments,” he said.

“I also want to nurture their talent because once they are done with school they stop singing; I do not want their talent to end at school level,” he said.

Their accolades as a group include obtaining second place in the SJ Khosa Choral Competition, winning the Sport, Arts and Culture Mopani District Choral Competition, obtaining second place in a provincial choral competition and winning a silver medal at the Mapungubwe Choral Festival.

“I’m proud of my team, they are very young, but they can compete and win against mature choirs such as Mpumalanga University and Capricorn Choir among other competitors,” added Malapane.