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Saturday, June 28, 2014

BORN FROM THE SAME DRUM



Proven world beater gives glorious and joyous performance. (Review by Keith Millar)

The Kearsney College Choir is a proven world beater. Just have a look at this résumé. Since the year 2000, they have acquired ten gold medals and six silver medals at the World Choir Games – the biggest choir competition in the world. At the last games in Cincinnati, USA, in 2012, they were crowned World Champions in the Scenic Folklore category. This was the third time they had received this particular award. These achievements are against all-comers as the competition is not restricted to school choirs.

Next week, the choir will travel to Geneva to represent the continent of Africa at the United Nations sponsored Rhythms of One World festival. Thereafter, they will move on to the city of Riga, the capital of Latvia in Northern Europe, to defend their World Champions title at the 2014 World Choir Games.

This week the choir gave their families, friends and fans the opportunity to preview their World Choir Games programme with two performances at Henderson Hall at the school. Presented in a supper theatre format, these concerts proved to be wonderful festive affairs with supporters of the choir turning up in their hundreds and filling the hall to capacity.

This enthusiastic and receptive audience was treated to an outstanding and spellbinding performance by the 64 young men of this impressive choir. Superbly led by the school’s Director of Music, Bernard Krüger, they performed with mesmerising vigour, boisterousness, energy and musicality. The elation of singing and performing was palpable on the faces of all the boys. They just want to sing, and they certainly can. It was a glorious and joyous performance.

Included in the programme was music from all three categories the choir has entered at this year’s games. They are: Young Male Choir, Scenic Pop and Scenic Folklore.

It is a wonderful and innovative programme with many highlights which brought the audience to their feet on several occasions. The choir makes liberal use of percussion instruments and is supported by a band of piano, guitar, bass and drums, and on occasion saxophones. All the musicians, apart from the school’s full-time accompanist and music teacher, Bonita Ziegelmeier, are members of the choir.

There is little doubt that the Kearsney College Choir is one of the premier ensembles in Africa and indeed in the world today. The members come from varied backgrounds, both culturally and economically, but are living proof of what can be achieved if we are prepared to work together and forge relationships to achieve a common goal.

In a sports-mad country, cultural achievement are not always given the accolades they deserve. We should celebrate the Kearsney College choir for its past achievements and get behind them and support them as they embark on this next adventure. Without doubt they will do us proud. – Keith Millar