A choral festival to remember
The Ekurhuleni Melting Pot Choral Festival brought together 10 of the best choirs from all over the country to battle it out for the number one choir in South Africa.
The event was held at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena over two days.
The two-day festival began on a nostalgic note at the gravesite of Oliver and Adelaide Tambo in Watville, where the world-renowned vocalist Sibongile Khumalo together with 1000 choristers and the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.
They gave a moving tribute during a brief memorial service before the festival.
The festival started later than planned but the audience was bound to their seats with the beautiful ‘viva Olvier Tambo’ chorus echoing through the arena.
This year’s best African rendition category was son by the SA Singers who won the R250 000 prize.
Monti Tshepo Manamela, conductor of the latter, was named the best conductor for both days and was awarded an amount of R15 000 plus a one year scholarship contract with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.
The mayor Mondli Gungubele and Zeni Tshongweni, MMC for sport, recreation, arts and culture handed over the winning trophy to the Kopano Chorus from Pretoria who won the best choral rendition.
The competition is hosted by the City of Ekurhuleny as a key event on its Oliver Tambo month calendar in celebration of the life and le gacy of the late struggle stalwart, choral music composer and conductor.
The mayor said choral music is the most underrated genre of music in the country, yet the most therapeutic to consume.
“Thus the City of Ekurhuleni is putting its weight behind this form of music in order to uplift the standard of choral music in our country.”
