(Heather
Brandon)
Heather Brandon (born 20/11/1931), founder
and director of the Oriana Choir, Fellow of Trinity College and graduate of
London University, passed away peacefully in her sleep at a care home in the
Western Cape on April 11, 2020.
She was also well-known as a pianist, adjudicator
and lecturer in the Performing Arts Division of the Natal Technikon (now Durban
University of Technology).
However, her greatest contribution to music
in KZN was in the field of choral conducting and, in particular, her formation
of the Oriana Choir in 1965. This chamber choir came to be regarded as one of
South Africa’s finest choral ensembles, having been selected by the SABC to
represent South Africa in the BBC series, Let
the People Sing. The choir broadcast regularly and made highly successful
tours of the Cape for CAPAB (now Artscape); undertook several tours of KZN for
NAPAC (now the Playhouse Company), as well as presenting its own concerts which
it presented throughout KZN.
(Heather
Brandon with director Malcolm Woolfson taken from the programme of “Down in the
Valley”, the operetta by Kurt Weil, which toured the KZN Midlands in the early
80s)
Heather Brandon was also founder and
Director of the 120-strong Durban Symphonic Choir which won acclaim for its
performances of the large choral works. She conducted the Durban Symphony Orchestra
and was also a SABC recording artist.
Maggie Reynolds who was a member of the
Oriana choir for many years pays this tribute: “Beloved Heather, you gave so
much to all of us. We learnt everything there is about music from you. Rest in
peace, dear friend.”
Durban arts practitioner Thanduxolo Zulu was
a choir member in all three choirs and was the first black singer to join the
Oriana Choir when apartheid was still in place. He comments: “A very sad moment
indeed to us all former Royal Singing Zulus, Durban Symphonic Choir and Oriana
Choir members. We learnt so much from this gallant of a lady. She has now
joined the heavenly voices that forever sing “Hosanna”. May her soul rest in
perfect peace.”
Bongani Tembe, CEO and Artistic Director of
the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, adds: “I first met Heather Brandon around 1982
and she was warm, vibrant and welcomed me with open arms to the Durban
Symphonic Choir. It was a choir of about 80 people and less than five of us
were black but both Heather Brandon and the choir appreciated our talent and
presence. She was also a good musician and did a lot to inspire Durban
musically with her infectious positive energy. May her soul rest in peace.”
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