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THREE local school choirs excelled at the weekend's Western Cape Provincial Championships of the Tirisano Schools Choral Eisteddfod, a joint venture between the Department of Education and First National Bank.
Huguenot High in Wellington was the winner of the own choice song category, with New Orleans Secondary second, while Ihlumelo Junior Secondary from Mbekweni won the HIV/Aids song category.
Sixty schools from around the province took to the stage at the Belhar sports centre, each with their sights set on a place in the National Championships which will be held at The Dome at Northgate in Johannesburg from 10 to 13 July.
The choirs from Huguenot and Ihlumelo will attend the national championship, courtesy of the organisers.
Adjudicator Ronnie Samaai, with over forty years of choral experience, said he was amazed by the high standard of operatic renditions as performed by various scholars.
"We have exceptional soloist talent in this country. The music was extremely challenging but they did very well, especially when you consider that most of the schools in the townships do not even have pianos," Samaai said.
"We have talent in abundance. However, it needs to be channelled and encouraged all the time, as we can't afford to lose these young people. More importantly, this proved that music has a binding factor."
The championships form part of the DoE and FNB's vision to use the power of unity and song as a means of instilling pride and mutual respect amongst South African youth. |
STUDENTS from Bridge House and forty Grade 3 pupils from Lubeck Primary are investing their time on Thursday afternoons in a community service project.