When Marianne Hellberg cut out a newspaper article about the newly formed Drakensberg Boys’ Choir in 1967, little did she realise that one day both her sons and a grandson would become ‘Drakies’.
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Jürgen recalls: “We went to a concert and the conductor invited boys to audition after the show. I was too shy, but Rolf auditioned and was accepted. That’s when I pulled rank and said, hang on, I’m the older brother, if he’s there, I’m going too; and I can honestly say it was the best time I had in my childhood years. Moreover it was a life changing experience. All of a sudden I was exposed to a world of beautiful music, spectacular mountains, performing, travelling and hours of singing every day. What more could I want?
“I absolutely loved it and decided then already that I wanted to be a performer.”
Jürgen has been a professional actor and scriptwriter for 35 years. He sings if the role requires it, sings with the DBC Old Boys’ Choir, and was the front man of a Rock n Roll band too. He believes that following the path that Drakies guided him onto, led him to meet his soul mate, Shireen Hollier. They started dating in their first year as drama students, 36 years ago, and are married with two children: Tessa, an honours student at Wits, and Tristan, who became a Drakie at the beginning of this year.
Jürgen took him along to a DBC Old Boys’ rehearsal one Saturday afternoon last year: “Shireen and Tessa were busy and we didn’t want him being at home alone.” The idea was that Tristan was going to sit in garden and play with his PSP. But he never left the rehearsal room. He just sat listening; enthralled by the music. “We were rehearsing the Carmina Burana at the time, which we later sang together with the school at the 50th anniversary celebrations,” says Jürgen, “And his first words after the gala performance were: I want to be a Drakie.” Nine months later he entered the school gates and became the third Drakie in the family.
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What made it so special for Jürgen, apart from seeing his son following in his footsteps, was the support he got from the fellow Old Boys. “They sent so many encouraging messages when Tristan went for his audition and assessment, and shared our joy when he was accepted.” Being a Drakie doesn’t only mean that you are singing in a world famous choir, it also means becoming a member of a small and elite brotherhood.
A lot has changed at the school since 1972, but the ethos and culture remain the same. They still have school six days a week. They still sing at least two hours a day. They still hike and sleep over in the mountains on free weekends and swim in the river, and have an active sports schedule as well. It’s a 24/7 experience which teaches time management, manners and engrains a work ethic that will stand them in good stead later on in life. Jürgen believes that drama school taught him technique, but Drakies taught him the discipline and work ethic which is essential for success in the arts.
The major difference between today’s boys and those from the early days is the concert status qualification criteria.
“We never had that.”
Laughs Jürgen. “And to be quite honest, a lot of us old boys are relieved that we didn’t, because we might not have made the grade.” Today’s boys have to pass 30 tests, over and above their school work and learning the repertoire, before they are allowed to sing in the concerts.
These tests are mainly music and music theory based, but they also include knowing the core values of the school, the history, fauna and flora of the area and well as good manners and conduct. At the time of writing this article Tristan was on Test 22 and determined to get his concert status before the end of the 2nd term; a very good achievement if he manages it.
What Tristan loves most about the school is the singing and performing. Not surprising considering his pedigree: His mother was a founder member of the award winning and internationally acclaimed female a’ Capella group, Cutt Glas. He does miss home sometimes like all the boys do, but the support system is good and the boys understand when one of them is feeling down, because they all experience it from time to time.
“When I feel sad I think to myself, my Drakie brothers, and Uncle Rolf are here with me, so I’m not alone.” (There is a plaque on the Wall of Remembrance at the school with bearing his late uncle’s name.)
“I am very proud to be a Drakie because it’s the best school in the world. My father and uncle where here too and my father has told me lots of stories about what they used to do, and now I’m doing those things too.” Tristan hopes to be there until the end of 2021, whilst Jürgen just smiles, proud but knowing his retirement has been placed on hold.
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Jürgen has been involved in over 300 professional productions.
He has written scripts for Egoli, High Rollers and Scandal, as well as South Africa’s presentations at World Summits and COP17 conferences. He’s known to the public as Mr Spiller from Skeem Saam, Kitte from Binnelanders, Pierre the racist farmer from Isidingo, and Heinz the German tourist from Scandal and has a number of award nominations. But despite these accolades, his CV proudly begins with: Jürgen Hellberg began his career as a performer in 1972, as a member of the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. One day Tristan’s may start the same way.
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