CARNIVAL City plays host to the annual Ekurhuleni Melting Pot National Choral Festival for the third consecutive year at the end of the month.

This year’s event, a tribute to Oliver Tambo, takes place on Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1, when the country’s top voices will compete for a prize of R500 000.
The rich heritage of South Africa’s choral traditions will be celebrated with soul uplifting performances by some of the country’s most respected choirs. The length and breadth of South Africa has been traversed to unearth the participants in this, one of South Africa’s biggest choral competitions.

There is something in it for connoisseurs of fine music too as those who purchase the R250 ticket stand a chance to win a car. Tickets cost from R150 per person at Computicket.
Officiated by the effervescent Umhlobo Wenene DJ, Putco Mafani and Chriselda Kananda, the event promises hours of choral bliss with special performances by chorally inclined musicians and artists like Zakes Bantwini, Sibongile Khumalo, Black Coffee, Solly Mahlangu, Sally Silver, Njabulo Madlala and Nathi.

“With ten world class choirs and some of South Africa’s biggest artists performing, this choral music festival is touted to be one of the choice events on Gauteng’s 2015 cultural calendar. We are honoured to play host to the grand finals of this prestigious choral competition in which there is R500 000 in prize money to be won.

“Many of these choirs have performed and competed internationally and have been placed under the best in the world time and again. Now, the public can hear these exceptional choirs perform together under one roof at the Big Top Arena,” says Matthew Cook, the Entertainment and Events Manager at Carnival City.”
October is OR Tambo month and as an art and culturally astute freedom fighter, composer and former school choir conductor, the Melting Pot Festival is a fitting tribute to this giant of South Africa.

“Choral music is food for the soul because it plays an important role in developing a sound fibre of the community,” says Ekurhuleni Muncipality Mayor, Mondli Gungubele.
The choir groups performing in the festival include:
1. His Majesty Choir (Swaziland)
2. Zwelitsha Adult Choir
3. Gauteng Choristers
4. SA Singers
5. Voice Of The Nation
6. African Chorus
7. Heavenly Voices
8. Bagale (Lesotho)
9. Serumula
10. Transnet Port Terminal.