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DUT Collaborates in Showcasing KZN’s University Choirs

DUT Collaborates in Showcasing KZN’s University Choirs

New festival to showcase KwaZulu-Natal’s university choirs

The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, in collaboration with the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Department of Student Governance and Development, presents an exceptional festival to showcase the province’s tertiary institution choirs. Seven choirs will participate, each presenting two works, all accompanied by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic.
The programme consists of traditional Zulu works (Qinisela Sibisi) as well as operatic excerpts (Handel, Haydn, Donizetti). The event takes place at Fred Crookes Sports Centre at DUT’s Steve Biko campus. The choral concert is at 15:00 on Sunday, 14 September and admission is free.

The four KwaZulu-Natal choirs are from Durban University of Technology Choir (Durban campuses), Durban University of Technology Choir (PMB campuses), University of KwaZulu-Natal Choir and the University of Zululand Choir. The special guest choir for the event is the University of Limpopo-MEDUNSA Choir from Pretoria, as well as two KwaZulu-Natal school choirs, namely Ekwazini High School and the Birdswood Secondary School Choir from Richards Bay

This annual festival was established in 2012 to provide a one stop hub of knowledge for tertiary choirs in the province. Bongani Tembe, chief executive and artistic director of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic said that in 2014, being the celebration of 20 years of democracy, the focus is on how choral music has enhanced the development of tertiary choirs, creating a life-enhancing experience for all the youthful participants.

The 2014 festival will reach new milestones by introducing a Conductors’ Development programme with master classes in which the participating conductors will work with the resident conductors of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic. A partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Health department will bring a healthy lifestyle approach to the participating choirs with talks and workshops on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and even includes gymnastics on Saturday before the concert. For the first time, in a partnership between Olwandle Chartered Accountants and Business Consultants and the Clermont Choir Foundation, participants will also be offered workshops on running a small business and its appropriate governance. Choir managers will have an opportunity for training on issues of finances and choir management.

The festival concludes with a gala dinner after the concert with guest speakers, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts & Culture together with the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, addressing youth issues in South Africa and the beneficial role of choral music.

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