Three Top Choirs to Perform in KZN Midlands This Week

The hills of the KZN Midlands will resound with the magnificent choral sounds of three top choirs this weekend. The Drakensberg Boys Choir and The Chamber Singers will perform at Hilton College and the Cape Soloists Choir at the Lutheran Church in Hayfields. Their performances form part of a four day International Choral Conducting Seminar which takes place from 20 to 23 February at the Fernhill Hotel, a well-known establishment on the Midlands Meander. The seminar is designed to assist advanced and emerging choral conductors to improve their skills by working with the choirs mentioned and being mentored by international and local choral conducting practitioners.

On Thursday 20 February at 18h30, The Drakensberg Boys' Choir will perform a programme called Back from abroad at the Hilton College Memorial Hall. The hour long performance of exciting choral music will feature Karl Jenkins' From our Earth, Aandgesang, Te Deum Laudamus, and many more exquisite works from the Choral Music genre. Conducted by Charlotte Botha, the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School tours overseas regularly and this will be a great opportunity to hear them in concert.

The Cape Soloists Choir, conducted by Kåre Hanken and Jaco Dippenaar, can be heard at the Lutheran Church in Hayfields on Friday 21 February at 18h30. The programme, JS Bach meets Knut Nystedt, pays tribute to two famous composers from the Lutheran Church, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) and Norwegian, Knut Nystedt (1915-). The Cape Soloists Choir will be accompanied by the Amici String Quartet, Chris Cockburn and harpist, Marina Solomon. As a special treat, the audience will also get to hear a string quartet and wind quartet (bassoon, 2 English horns, Oboe) in dialogue in the Bach motet, Komm Jesu, komm. Definitely a concert not to be missed!

On Saturday 22 February at 18:30, The Chamber Singers conducted by Michael Barrett can be heard at the Hilton College Chapel. With their programme, Eternal Light, the audience will be taken on a special journey into the light of unforgettable sacred music. Accompanied by organist, Ockie Vermeulen, this contemporary concert programme with titles such as King of Glory, Sing to the Lord, Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars, and Oh Evening Star makes for an exceptional aesthetic and spiritual experience. Come and enjoy the music of contemporary composers Josu Elberdin, Ralph Hoffman, Ola Gjeilo, Jonathan Dove and Morten Lauridsen.

Bookings for all concerts can be made by phoning the International Choral Conductors Seminar on 033 383 0126 or by sending an email to tickets@hiltoncollege.com.