Starting out as just a festival between two universities, the South African Tertiary Institutions Choral Association (SATICA) competition has now become an annual phenomenon in some of South Africa’s institutions, celebrating the unity of our freedom as a rainbow nation through choral music.

An annual event hosted in different universities across South Africa, the 2013 SATICA competition has, since Monday, July 1, 2013, been holding daily at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, Durban University of Technology.

Launched officially in 1993, the competition has grown enormously over the years with 20 entries this year. Choirs are grouped into three categories namely, silver, gold and platinum. The purpose of this is to give all choirs an equal opportunity to compete according to their level, thus giving everyone a fair chance.

SATICA is now in search of an outstanding choir that will outdo the University of Fort Hare, the current champions of the competition. The successful choir will get a chance to have its institution’s name engraved in the floating shield, keeping it for a year.

SATICA President Velani Mbiza said, “Choral music brings people together, they sing in unity as a group.”

According to Mbiza, SATICA endeavours to afford each university that takes part in the challenge the opportunity to host the choral music competition. But in order to be selected, universities are required to send proposals to the executive of the competition. When making its selection, the executive looks at whether an institution meets the criteria as well as if it is in compliance with the health and safety regulations stipulated by government.

One the judges in this year’s competition, Sally Presant of the University of Western Cape said: “The competition this year is of a very high standard; you would swear that these students study music but they are in different fields but share the same love for music.”

As the week proceeds the choirs are battling it out in their different categories in pursuit of winning in Sunday’s finale, where the top three positions in each category will be announced. The overall best choir will be awarded a Nacma and also receive a cash prize.

Mbali Madlala

Pictured: DUT Midlands Boys Choir at the 2013 SATICA competition, currently being held at the DUT Fred Crookes Sports Centre until Sunday, July 7, 2013.