Stirling choir warm up for Games
THE Stirling High school Chamber Choir is hard at work preparing for the 10th World Choir Games taking place in Tshwane in July.
After coming in third place at the ATKV Applause competition in Pretoria last year, the choir gained automatic entrance into the World Choir Games Champion Competition, the highest level of the games.
“The choir Games are like the Olympic Games for choirs,” said choir conductor Leoni Johl.
”In 2013 I took a group of eight members from my acapella group to Latvia to the eighth World Choir Games and the experience was incredible so I could not resist entering my chamber choir this year so that they could also have the experience,” Johl said.
Organised by Interkultuur, the competition is expected to attract 3000 participants from 70 different nations.
“The Games showcase talent from all over the world, with the massive opening and closing ceremonies bringing the nations together.”
Thirty members, including conductor and accompanist Jacques du Plessis, will compete in the Mixed Youth Choir and Folk categories, hoping to make their mark.In the Mixed Youth Choir category, the choir will be singing four high-level competition standard songs, including a composition from one of South Africa's prolific choral composers, Pieter Louis Van Dijk.The folk category will see the choir perform an African song medley emphasising unity in a rainbow nation. In total, the trip will cost R240 000, with the choir and school running various fundraising efforts in order to cover the costs.
The recent bingo evening at Stirling High school managed to bring in R25 000 and it is hoped that their next fundraiser, The Wonder of You – Story of Elvis, will bring in more much-needed funds.
“It still doesn't come close to our total and we are still looking for choir outfit sponsors and T-shirt sponsors as well as any monetary contribution, but hopefully we will reach our fundraising goal.”
The Wonder of You – Story of Elvis fundraising concert for the Stirling choir will take place on May 16 at the Guild Theatre from 7pm. Tickets are R100 and can be purchased at Computicket.
The choir will also be having a final performance for East Londoners where they will perform their competition repertoire. This will take place on June 21 at 7.30pm.
For more information or if you would like to support the choir, please contact Leoni Johl at armourl@stirlinghs.co.za