KNYSNA NEWS - World, European and South African choral champions, the acclaimed South Cape Children’s Choir, directed by Jan-Erik Swart, will be opening its 2017 concert season in the Knysna Primary School hall on Friday, February 24 at 18.30 for 19.00.
The choir comprises 90 talented singers from all communities, aged nine to 16 years, auditioned from 16 schools in the Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay regions. They meet every Friday in George and rehearse a challenging, diverse programme of 45-plus songs representing the Renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, modern, contemporary pop and African ethnic music.
The choir is more well-known in Europe than its own region, having undertaken seven international concert tours of Europe, recorded nine CDs and enjoyed regular TV and radio exposure both in South Africa and abroad.
• 2016 64th European Festival for Young People (cum laude) in Neerpelt, Belgium.
• 2014 open category of the World Choir Games held in Riga Latvia.
• Winning the 2014 ATKV Animato South African competition.
• Winning the 2013 Klein Karoo National Arts Festival Kanna Trophy for best production with Chris Chameleon’s Misa Creolla/Dreams production.
What makes this choir unique from any other, is its hauntingly beautiful tone quality, dynamic, highly rehearsed performance energy, a varied repertoire, including gumboots, African maiden dancing, percussion and technology, as well as a witty, entertaining facilitation by the director, which draws the audience into the music.
The choir will also be featuring young guest artists, drawn from the Knysna region, who will perform during the concert.
The director of music, Jan-Erik Swart, is a highly qualified choral trainer and clinician, who develops young people’s voices to international standards. He will be adjudicating the Tygerberg International Eisteddfod in 2017 and will be travelling to Barcelona for the 2017 11th IFCM World Choir Symposium as an invited delegate. He makes himself available to develop various school choirs, locally and internationally.
Tickets are available from Ester Beyleveld (082 972 3936) or southcapemusic@gmail.com. Deserving singers between the ages of nine and 16 who would like to audition after the concert, can also submit their names to the above email.
New members will be preparing to record two CDs during 2017 and will be touring Ireland, Europe and New Zealand during 2018 and 2019.
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