“Music knows no boundaries and its appeal defies the narrow categories of race, class, gender and age,” said Dalene Hoogenhout, coach and conductor of the Witwatersrand University (Wits) Choir.
With this in mind, and coupled with their motto ‘Excellence Through Diversity’, the Wits Choir and the Young Wits Choir, hosted the Missouri State University Chorale in a once-off performance on 26 May at Wits Main Theatre.
The choirs performed a joint concert representing the two countries’ repertoire and was a collaborative effort, which was enjoyed by chorister and audience member alike. The Wits Choir is now in it’s 54th year of existence and such performances prove that their motto of diversity is still alive and strong.
“An express objective is to use our brand of music and joy of singing to share the wonderful treasure of our mostly home-grown repertoire with our American guest choir,” Hoogenhout expressed. The Wits Choir performed an all African set for their guests.
The Chorale under the direction of Dr Cameron F LaBarr, is the flagship touring choir of Missouri State’s Department of Music. This select choir of approximately 50 voices performs regularly at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, Missouri Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education, and has toured throughout the United States and Europe. The Chorale was on tour in South Africa in May.
Details: Wits Theatre, 011 717 1376.
