New round of World Choir Games
WEDNESDAY sees the start of the second half of the 10th World Choir Games, with new choirs arriving in Pretoria for the event.
These include the Mountain Top Chorale from Nigeria and the Kammerchor Wernigerode from Germany, as well as new singers such as the Mpumalanga Mass Choir. In total, 16 000 singers in 300 amateur choirs from 60 countries are taking part.
Saturday was a busy day with competition events across the capital city well attended, and many guests stopping in at the World Choir Village for refreshments or to visit the games souvenir shop and pick up a few items.
Informal “friendship” concerts continued across the city, while the competition rounds – which can be attended by the public for a fee – were well received.
The games have two types of competition in a total of 27 categories: Open competition rounds in which any choir can compete, and the Champions competition for those choirs with more experience, especially competition experience.
Open competition winners included:
Children’s Choirs/Mixed Boys Choirs: Drakondale Girls Choir School (SA) Ronel Laidlaw-Perks.
Vocal Ensembles: SingFonix (SA), conducted by Riekie van Aswegen.
Mixed Choirs: University of the Western Cape Creative Arts Choir, conducted by Sibusiso Njeza.
Music of Spirit and Faith: St John’s DSG school choir, conducted by Carika de Swardt.
On Saturday choirs gathered at the Sun Arena Time Square for an awards ceremony of the Champions competition rounds in the first part of the competition. Four South African choirs – including one from Pretoria – were among the winners. The winners were: Children’s Choirs/Mixed Boys Choirs: Tygerberg Children’s Choir, conducted by Hendrik D Loock.
Youth Choirs of Equal Voices: Diocesan Girls’ School Choir from Hong Kong, conducted by Dorothy Hui.
Vocal Ensembles: Fortissimo from Bulgaria, conducted by Milena Dobreva.
Mixed Choirs: Diocesan Schools Choral Society from Hong Kong, conducted by Felix Tsi Shing Shuen.
Female Choirs: Aarhus Pigekor from Denmark, conducted by Helle Høyer Vedel.
Male Choirs: Diocesan Boys’ School Choir from Hong Kong, conducted by Felix Tsi Shing Shuen.
Senior Choirs: Hunan Zhiqing Art Troupe from China, conducted by Yuefeng Zhou and Jun Wang.
Musica Sacra with accompaniment: Tygerberg Children’s Choir from South Africa, conducted by Hendrik D Loock.
Music of Spirit and Faith: Singakademie Graz, Austria, conducted by Maria Fürntratt.
Pop Ensembles: Harmonize from Republic of Korea, conducted by Jangseok Oh.
Scenic Pop/Show Choirs: Drakensberg Boys Choir from South Africa, conducted by Bernard Krüger.
Folklore a cappella: University of Johannesburg Choir from South Africa, conducted by Sidumo Nyamezele.
Scenic Folklore: St Mary’s DSG Choir from South Africa, conducted by Lindy van der Meulen.
Yesterday at 4pm, executive mayor Solly Msimanga hosted the Africa Celebrates! Legacy Concert at the Sun Arena. It featured highlights of African choral music and celebrated the legacy of famous African singers. Instead of buying a ticket to attend, everyone was asked to bring a blanket, a new pair of shoes or a packed toiletry bag to gain entry.
These gifts will be distributed to needy people in Pretoria.