A joyful and festive occasion. Break a leg,
boys! (Review by Keith Millar)
Kearsney College’s celebrated Choir has for
some time set the benchmark for school choirs, both locally and, for that
matter, internationally. They can proudly call themselves world champions
having been awarded 13 gold and six silver medals at the World Choir Games (the
Olympics Games for Choirs) over the years.
They were awarded the “Prize of the City of
Vienna” at the 33rd International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, as well
as 1st prizes in various international choral competitions in Hong Kong,
Germany and Austria. They were also invited to represent Africa at the Rhythms of
One World Music Festival at the UN European Headquarters in Geneva.
Now they are about to embark on their
bi-annual international tour, this time to Singapore to compete in the 10th
Orientale Concentus Competition. And if their supper theatre concert at the
school this week showcasing their tour repertoire is anything to go by, they
should return with another bag full of trophies and medals.
Under the innovative leadership of the
Director of Music at the school, Marcel Lombard, the choir displayed all the
wonderful quality of sound and richness of tone one has come to expect from the
Kearsney boys. There is little doubt that these youngsters want to sing and
they do so with joyful exuberance, dynamism and energy.
The choir sings both a cappella and with
accompaniment, with most of the supporting musicians also being pupils from the
school.
Their repertoire includes both traditional
and contemporary music. The Folklore segment of their repertoire is intense and
dramatic and bursting with the rhythms of Africa and includes a bit of gumboot
dancing and stick fighting. It is sure to win many friends at the competition.
Contemporary music items included superb
renditions of songs such as Johnny Clegg’s Asimbonanga
and The Crossing, Sam Smith’s Writing’s On The Wall, Calum Scott’s Dancing On My Own, Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic and George Michaels’ You’ve Got To Have Faith.
Matric pupil Alex Gibb was a very
impressive as a soloist and he covered himself in glory while Head of School. Head
of Choir Wandile Linda also featured strongly.
This supper theatre performance by the
Kearsney choir was a joyful and festive occasion thoroughly enjoyed by an
audience of family and friends who filled the school hall to capacity – and
justifiably gave the choir a rousing, standing ovation at the end of the
concert.
The Orientale Concentus Competition in
Singapore awaits them - and they are sure to do themselves, their school and
indeed their country proud. Break a leg, boys! – Keith Millar
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