THE St Mary’s DSG’s high school choir was crowned the world champions in the Scenic Folklore category at the 2018 World Choir Games in Tshwane.
With an overall points position of 83.50 points, the choir was awarded a special Champion of the World Choir Games Protea-inspired trophy and a gold medal. The choir also achieved a silver medal in the Scenic Pop category.
The 10th World Choir Games were hosted in Africa for the first time. In total, 16 000 singers in 300 amateur choirs from 60 countries took part in the Games. There are two competitive sections: Champions, the highest level of the competition for choirs that have already proven their proficiency at international level, and open, choirs with no international experience. Within each of these there are 27 categories. St Mary’s competed in the champions section.
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The choir comprised 56 girls and four staff members who accompanied them on piano, keyboard, bass guitar, drums and beatboxing.
The repertoire chosen for the scenic folklore programme were traditional songs that were reinterpreted. The programme tells a story about a girl who is lured into human trafficking and slavery through a trusted friend or boyfriend where trying to escape is often impossible. The audience were then taken through a journey of the pain of the deception, the separation from loved ones and imprisonment, followed with hope for freedom and justice. The programme was emotive and powerful.
“This has been an incredible learning experience for the Saints girls. Their commitment, patience and teamwork were all necessary and they have seen the value in working toward something bigger than oneself,” said the school’s executive principal, Jonathan Manley.
The songs and choreography were all chosen to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. St Mary’s has worked with the A21 Campaign in this awareness campaign and were grateful for the exposure this brings to the issue.
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