Choir conductor ranked amongst the best

Passion for choral music has seen one of Mpumalanga choir conductors ranked among the best Sikhumbuzo Hlanze (29) from Nhlazatshe started conducting school choirs immediately after completing matric in 2011. He has been a conductor for several schools in the province.

“I have conducted school choirs in Verena and Siyabuswa where the choirs made it to provincial levels. I have conducted Sikhutsele Combined School choir in Barberton before Masakhane Combined School which managed to win the African piece, Ngiyintfombi sibili during the South African National Schools Choir competition in April,” he said.

Being unemployed since completing high school, Hlanze has used his talent and solely depends on stipends he receives from conducting school choirs for a living.

“Music and giving the right keynote is what I know best. Unfortunately, schools’ music competitions are on a seasonal basis. After that, one is unemployed,”he said.

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He is inspired by Sidwell Mhlongo, the conductor of Gauteng Choristers. “That person inspires me and I learn a lot from his online videos. I also follow him on Facebook,” he said.

He also draws inspiration from Perfect Matsebula, a teacher and conductor for Phakane Primary School.

Jan Nkabinde, the principal of Masakhane Combined, said his school was blessed to have Hlanze as their choir conductor.

“He afforded us to win national competitions for the first time since the inception of the school in 1991. We have been longing for the prize for a long time. We really appreciate Hlanze for his commitment,” he said.

Hlanze is one of the many hopeful conductors who wishes to receive help from the Department of Education following MEC Bonakele Majuba’s announcement made while tabling the department’s R21,826 billion.

“Madam Speaker, we have noted that there are a number of young conductors of school choirs who are not professional teachers. The department will compile a list of these young men and women so that we can offer them support to be trained as professional teachers,” said Majuba.

Responding to Majuba’s articulations, Hlanze said, “I am hopeful and I would really love to be a teacher one day,” he concluded.