East Rand alive with music
South Africa’s top 10 choirs are ready to battle it out for the number one spot at the inaugural Ekurhuleni Melting Pot National Chorale Festival to be held at Carnival City's Big Top Arena on October 19.
The festival is being held as a tribute to late struggle stalwart Oliver Reginald Tambo, and is expected to be a powerful showdown of the country’s most majestic voices for the ultimate cash prize of R250 000.
The month of October is dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of O R Tambo in Ekurhuleni and the chorale competition will not only add flare to the month long celebrations, but pay homage to the leader who was also an accomplished choir master and enjoyed chorale and classical music.
Popular musos such as Afro Tenors, Zakes Bantwini and Siphokazi are on the line-up to entertain audiences, as well as local Ekurhuleni choirs Cenastra Male Choir, Tembisa High School Choir, Injula Yomculo Choir and Fumana High School Choir.
A school from Tambo’s birth place, Mbizana Village School Choir, will also come from the Eastern Cape to thrill choral music lovers. They will perform songs that were close to Tambo’s heart.
On the day of the festival the audience will be given a chance to vote for their favourite choir. The choir with the most votes will win the OR Tambo People’s Choice Award.
The 10 choirs participating the Ekurhuleni Melting Pot Chorale Festival are:
- Kopano Chorus – Gauteng
- Voices of the Nation – Gauteng
- Thabong Serenade – Free State
- Gauteng Choristers – Gauteng
- Clermont Community Choir – KwaZulu-Natal
- Heavenly Voices – Western Cape
- Belcanto Voices – Free State
- African Chorus – KwaZulu-Natal
- SA Singers – KwaZulu-Natal
- Transnet Port Terminal Choir – Eastern Cape
Tickets cost R180 and are available through Computicket.
