Top honours for Ezibeleni choir

The Ezibeleni Talent Development Choir garnered a first place in the Chris Hani district choral competition
The Ezibeleni Talent Development Choir garnered a first place in the Chris Hani district choral competition

 

 

THE Ezibeleni Talent Development Choir  (ETDC) wowed audiences with their sterling performance  at a packed Mzi Sikweyiya Hall during the Chris Hani Choral Music competition on Sunday. Seven choirs from the district participated  and ETDC were the winners of the competition and event organiser Malusi Mtyhalela said they were pleased with the perfomance shown by each choir.

 

“The competition was of high standards.  All the choirs were well prepared and did not disappoint. Since it is an annual competition, we started by doing annual workshops so that all the choirs could be familiar with the music that was prescribed for this year.”

 

He said this years competition went well beyond their expectations. “ The competition started in 2003 and this year was the highlight. We had many dignitaries there and  people who came all over the district and the province. We were happy to see our residents fill the hall and the choirs were well taken of by the Chris Hani District Municipality and the Department of Sports ,Arts and Culture because all the choirs received something. The choirs each sang many items and there were also many solo winners.”

 

He said plans were already under-way to try and have representatives from all local municipalities in the area for next years competition. “We are still looking forward to see all the local municipalities being represented in next years competition. We are engaging with other municipalities so that they can be part of this competition.”

 

Member of Eastern Cape Choral Music Association Luvuyo Tintelo said they would try and recruit young people into the choirs. “Choral music is collecting a lot of kids from our communities to build up on their careers, some people are not good when it comes to academics but they are very good in music so there is a career for some of them to follow. Many artists start their singing careers in the choirs before they venture to other music genres. We have seen professionals coming from Komani,we have people who are singing choral music in USA who are coming from Chris Hani area and that shows we can produce quality.”

 

“What we need the most now is to grow this choral music and understand that it can assist with development. We are also training the kids for the future and to stay away from drugs. The music that we are singing has good messages. People really enjoyed it very much and it was also our way of celebrating heritage month.”The Ezibeleni choir will participate in the OR Tambo Music Festival on the 22nd of October in Mthatha next month.

 

 

 

 

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