(Photographer:
Tracey van den Aardweg)
The acclaimed Kearsney College Choir from
Botha’s Hill in KwaZulu-Natal has won two gold medals and one silver at the
10th World Choir Games.
Under the direction of Marshell Lombard,
the choir competed in three categories, winning golds in the Scenic Pop and
Music of Spirit and Faith categories, as well as silver in the Scenic Folklore
category.
Known as the ‘Olympics for Choirs’, over
300 choirs and 16,000 participants from 62 countries are competing at this
year’s Games, which ended in Tshwane on July 14, 2018. The world’s largest
competition for non-professional choirs is held every second year, and this is
the first time the Games have been held in Africa.
There are two competitive sections:
Champions (highest level of the competition for choirs which have already
proven their proficiency at international level) and Open (choirs with no
international experience). Within each of these there are 27 categories.
Kearsney College performed in three
categories of the tough Champions section, winning their two golds and one
silver.
After the announcement, Kearsney headmaster
Elwyn van den Aardweg said he was extremely proud of the boys’ achievements.
The choir has now achieved 15 gold medals and seven silvers at the World Choir
Games since 2000.
Its recent successes on the international
stage also include two gold medals at last year’s 10th Orientale Concentus
International Choral Festival in Singapore; the Prize of the City of Vienna at
the 33rd International Youth and Music Festival; and an invitation to represent
Africa at the Rhythms of One World Music Festival at the United Nations’ European
Headquarters in Geneva.
Last week, the choir received standing
ovations following its four performances at the Grahamstown Arts Festival ahead
of the World Choir Games.
“We believe it is manly to make music,” Van
den Aardweg said. “It’s been wonderful to see so many South African choirs
participating in a global event.”
The Kearsney choir has a growing
international following, with supporters in America, Asia, Europe and the rest
of Africa; and has been hailed as a great showpiece of the Rainbow Nation. It’s
not the traditional ‘school choir’, but an amazingly vibrant group of boys who
perform their signature blend of classical, pop and indigenous music, he said.
The choir will perform two supper theatre
shows at Kearsney College on July 19 and 20. Food and drinks will be on sale,
but those attending are also welcome to take their own refreshments. The shows
start at 19h00 with doors opening at 18h00. Bookings are through Computicket.
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