The festival will feature a line-up of top school choirs from Craighall, Montrose Primary School, Bordeaux Primary School, IR Griffith Primary School and Bryneven Primary School.
Their performances will take place under the theme ‘Celebrate Life’.
The Craighall Primary School Choir Festival will be Kubeka’s first public performance with the Craighall School Choir as part of her new role as music ambassador for the long-established government primary school.
In the build-up to the festival, Kubeka will also share more than 50 years experience as a singer, songwriter, musical arranger and actress to a new generation of young creative talents.
Kubeka said, “I’m delighted to be able to work with such enthusiastic young singers. Craighall (Primary School) has a special place in my heart, with one of my grandchildren attending the school. But the fact that the festival will bring so many choirs and young singers together is something that brings real joy to me.”
Since 1957, when she first joined Miriam Makeba’s The Skylarks at the age of 16, Kubeka has performed with an incredible array of international and South African talent including Abdullah Ibrahim, Kippie Moeketsi, Philip Tabane’s award-wining Jazzmakers, Tshooks Tschukudu’s Elite Swingers, Mackay Davashe’s Jazz Dazzlers, Eartha Kitt, Percy Sledge and Monk Montgomery.
Kubeka’s versatile talent has also seen her perform in film, television and on stage, and her songwriting repertoire offers a significant contribution to South African music.
Craighall Primary School principal Andrea Prout-Jones said, “We are honoured to have someone of Abigail Kubeka’s calibre to contribute to both our choir and the upcoming festival. Music is woven into the fabric of Craighall Primary School. We’re hoping to be able to turn the school choir festival into an annual event that grows yearly and provides a showcase and affirmation of the important role that culture continues to play in government schools.”
