The Tubatse Chrome Choir to participate in the Old Mutual National Choir Festival

STEELPOORT – The Tubatse Chrome Choir will participate in the Old Mutual National Choir Festival finals in Durban on December 7 and 8 where they stand a chance to win impressive cash prizes.

The choir was formed in 2012 by Mr Benjamin Moima and is owned by Tubatse Chrome, Samancor Chrome’s business unit.

Under the baton of Mr Poli Michael Manamela they participated in this year’s instalment of the for the first time and emerged as champions by winning both their prescribed songs.

“South African choral capabilities are said to be some of the best in the world. The nation’s finest will pull out the stops to prove they are worthy of this lofty reputation as they battle it out in the finals at the Durban International Convention Centre,” read a press statement issued by Old Mutual.

Tubatse Chrome Choir has worked hard to get this far, having won at the provincial championships in August. Now it is time to show if they have the wherewithal to take the national honours and the cash prize. As they take to the stage, the renowned KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany them.

The choir will have to compete against 10 other choirs in the standard category for the prize money. “In the Standard Category choirs will walk away with R37 000, R32 000, and R27 000 for first, second and third place respectively. Each of the competing choirs have already pocketed on average R11 000 from the elimination stages,” read the statement.

“The prescribed songs for the African section are Mangificwa Ukufa and Ugqozi by Prof M Khumalo. The western section prescribed songs are Gli Aranci Olezzaro ­­ Intanto Amici from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, Son Qua! Ritornano – I Zampognari from Pagliacci by R Leoncavallo and Guardala –­Juhe from Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito,” read the statement.

Join the Old Mutual National Choir Festival group on Facebook for all the updates and info.