Young voices to entertain music lovers
SUID-Natal High School has lined up a very special treat for all South Coast music lovers.
The amazing KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir will weave its special brand of magic at the school hall tomorrow (Friday), July 29. Doors open at 6pm. Food and refreshments will be available. Tickets for booked seats are R50 per person. Contact the school at 039 682 2212, Wim at 082 3239644 or Marietjie at 082 456 2328.
Founded by Hein de Villiers in 1968, the choir celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2013 and is now heading for gold. As its name depicts, it consists of talented young choristers from all over KwaZulu-Natal. It is based in Durban but a rich cultural diversity of singers come from all corners of the province including Port Edward, Kokstad, Richards Bay, Mooi River and Newcastle.
Those involved in the choir aim to build up the choral tradition in the province, to enrich communities through concerts, to promote stylistically correct choral singing and to engage the youth in a worthwhile activity. Gérard’d du Toit has been the artistic director since 1996 and is supported by an annually elected board, comprising parents of the choristers.
A non-profit organisation that obtains no additional income from government or sponsorship, it relies on membership fees from every chorister. This makes it difficult for many potential choristers to be a member of the choir, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The choir does not discriminate. Hundreds of applicants audition annually in August and September but only the top candidates are selected, purely on merit.
The choir has travelled all over South Africa and abroad and raises its standards by competing in international choral competitions in Europe every second year. A recent highlight was performing at the opening ceremony of the International Philip MacLachlan Choral seminar in 2004 in Stellenbosch, an event which attracted more than 250 conductors from South Africa and abroad.
It has not only received many awards from the South African Choral Society but has won a number of prestigious international gold and silver medals. Last year the choir travelled to Poland to take part in the Bydgoszcz Musical Impressions Competition and Festival competing against 19 choirs from 11 different countries.
The KwaZulu-Natal choristers walked away with a first place prize, which had been sponsored by the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage for the choral section of the competition as well as a cash prize. The choir has been the recipient of the most popular choir award at all competitions since 1998. It might be South Africa’s oldest youth choir but it embraces the new South Africa warmly.
