The voices of Laudem Dei filled the St Stithians Chapel in a powerful performance of Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass. The concert, accompanied by members of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, left the audience deeply moved.

Conductor Laura de Waal said she chose the work because of its scale and meaning. “Last year, we performed Jake Runestad’s The Hope of Loving with a string quartet. This year I wanted to attempt a larger work, and Sunrise Mass was perfect for that.”

The four-part Sunrise Mass blends cinematic and classical influences, with Gjeilo himself describing it as a musical journey: “From the vastness of the universe to earthly self-awareness.”
The St Stithians Chapel created the ideal backdrop for the performance.

Read more: Joburg Water finally attends to major bursts in Ferndale and Kensington B

“The chapel’s acoustics are perfect for multiple instruments,” De Waal said. “The beautiful window above the choir amplified both the text and the music, making the setting quite dramatic.”

The concert featured a specially assembled string ensemble made up of musicians from the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The connection came through choir friends Esther and Thys Spies, who helped bring the project to life. “We were very blessed to work with musicians of their calibre.”

The concert ran for 90 minutes, with the first half devoted to Sunrise Mass and other accompanied works, while the second half featured some of the choir’s favourites, including pieces by Eric Whitacre, Franco Prinsloo, and Allan Koepke. De Waal said what made the performance stand out was the variety and the teamwork between the choir and instrumentalists. “The choir did a stellar job in pulling it off.”

Laudem Dei is still a young choir, founded in September 2023. It began with just 20 singers, but has now doubled in size. Based in Randburg, the choir welcomes anyone who loves to sing, with auditions ensuring balance and blend across the 40 voices. De Waal also offers individual voice training to choristers. “I try to place voices where the best sound is created. Each person contributes to the whole.”

Also read: Douglasdale CPF holds successful community meeting

For De Waal, the reward goes beyond music. “Singing in an ensemble creates a special community. It teaches discipline and empathy and allows choristers to use their God-given talents beautifully.”

Preparing the choir for Sunrise Mass meant more than rehearsing notes. Members studied the Latin text translations and Gjeilo’s vision for the piece. “You start with the meaning of the text, and then you build on that.”

She hopes audiences feel something bigger than themselves. “It is a huge privilege to attend concerts with incredible musicians. Once the music is performed, the moment passes, and it cannot ever be fully captured. That is the beauty of live music.”

For Laudem Dei, whose very name means ‘Praise God’ in Latin, the performance was more than a concert; it was an offering of song, spirit, and community.

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!