UCT Choir
For three years, while I was a student at the University of Cape Town (UCT), I trained and conducted the UCT Choir (2010–2012). At that time, the UCT Choir was a student-run ensemble comprising singers from all academic faculties, from health sciences to humanities, making it the most diverse musical group on campus. Our musical focus was to explore the rich variety of the choral repertoire while drawing strongly on our own South African heritage.
During those three years, my aim was to embed the UCT Choir in the musical life of the university. Activities ranged from lunchtime gigs on (then) Jameson Plaza to singing the national anthem at Varsity Cup rugby matches. We were invited by the Vice-Chancellor to perform for prestigious visitors such as Sir David Attenborough and the Prince of Wales. During this time, the UCT Choir recorded four CDs, including a celebration of its 25th anniversary and a soundscape for the exhibition entitled Made in Translation. Each academic year ended with a showcase "Jammie Concert" on UCT’s Upper Campus.
As an active participant in the musical life of Cape Town, the UCT Choir regularly hosted joint concerts with other choral groups including the Cape Town Youth Choir, the Stellenbosch University Choir, Canticum Novum, the University of Johannesburg Choir, Tygerberg Camerata and university choirs visiting from abroad. The UCT Choir was also invited to join the Symphony Choir of Cape Town for performances of large orchestral works such as Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor in the Baxter Concert Hall.
In 2012, the UCT Choir was awarded three diplomas (90-100%) in the Cape Town Eisteddfod as well as the prize for Most Outstanding Senior Choir. Later that year, the UCT Choir participated in the national finals of the ATKV-Animato Koorkompetisie and won the awards for Best University Choir and Best African Works in the Youth Choir category.
That same year, the UCT Choir embarked on its first national tour in nearly a decade. The tour was an opportunity to renew relationships with choirs from further afield, including the Rhodes University Chamber Choir in Grahamstown, the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) Choir in Port Elizabeth, the George Male Voice Choir and the NMU George Campus Choir.
Outreach initiatives included annual participation in the Infecting the City public arts festival and the Last Night of the Proms charity concerts in the Cape Town City Hall, and weekly choral tutoring at Sinethemba Secondary School in Crossroads organised in conjunction with the South African Education Project.
During those three years, my aim was to embed the UCT Choir in the musical life of the university. Activities ranged from lunchtime gigs on (then) Jameson Plaza to singing the national anthem at Varsity Cup rugby matches. We were invited by the Vice-Chancellor to perform for prestigious visitors such as Sir David Attenborough and the Prince of Wales. During this time, the UCT Choir recorded four CDs, including a celebration of its 25th anniversary and a soundscape for the exhibition entitled Made in Translation. Each academic year ended with a showcase "Jammie Concert" on UCT’s Upper Campus.
As an active participant in the musical life of Cape Town, the UCT Choir regularly hosted joint concerts with other choral groups including the Cape Town Youth Choir, the Stellenbosch University Choir, Canticum Novum, the University of Johannesburg Choir, Tygerberg Camerata and university choirs visiting from abroad. The UCT Choir was also invited to join the Symphony Choir of Cape Town for performances of large orchestral works such as Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor in the Baxter Concert Hall.
In 2012, the UCT Choir was awarded three diplomas (90-100%) in the Cape Town Eisteddfod as well as the prize for Most Outstanding Senior Choir. Later that year, the UCT Choir participated in the national finals of the ATKV-Animato Koorkompetisie and won the awards for Best University Choir and Best African Works in the Youth Choir category.
That same year, the UCT Choir embarked on its first national tour in nearly a decade. The tour was an opportunity to renew relationships with choirs from further afield, including the Rhodes University Chamber Choir in Grahamstown, the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) Choir in Port Elizabeth, the George Male Voice Choir and the NMU George Campus Choir.
Outreach initiatives included annual participation in the Infecting the City public arts festival and the Last Night of the Proms charity concerts in the Cape Town City Hall, and weekly choral tutoring at Sinethemba Secondary School in Crossroads organised in conjunction with the South African Education Project.
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UCT Choir: Afloat (2012)
[1] If ye love me – Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585) [2] The crown of roses – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) [3] Oculi omnium – Charles Wood (1866-1926) [4] Two Songs from the /Xam: We, who are stars – Peter Klatzow (1945-2021) [5] Two Songs from the /Xam: I am the day star – Peter Klatzow [6] Steal away – Traditional, arr. Michael Tippett (1905-1998) [7] Nobody knows – Traditional, arr. Michael Tippett [8] Modimo, reboka Wena – Sesotho Traditional, arr. S. Mavuso and T. Khumalo [9] Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen, arr. Barrie Carson Turner [10] Sarie Marais – Afrikaans Traditional, arr. Cecilia van Tonder [11] Blackbird – Lennon/McCartney, arr. John Woodland [12] God Only Knows – Wilson/Asher, arr. Stephen Carletti [13] I’m goin’ up a yonder – Walter Hawkins, arr. Martin Sirvatka [14] Seasons of Love – Jonathan Larson, arr. Roger Emerson [15] Weeping – Dan Heymann, arr. Luke Holder [16] Pata pata! – African Traditional, arr. S. Mavuso and T. Khumalo [17] Magaliesburgse Aandlied – Afrikaans Traditional, arr. G. G. Cillié |
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UCT Choir: We, who are stars (2011)
[1] Mamaliye – Zulu Traditional [2] We, who are stars – Peter Klatzow (1945-2021) [3]-[8] Mass in the Dorian Mode – Herbert Howells (1892-1983) [9] Bogoróditse Djévo – Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) [10] When David Heard – Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) [11] Adiemus – Karl Jenkins (b. 1944) [12] Butterfly – Mia Makaroff (b. 1971) [13] Sounds of Africa – Zulu Traditional, arr. UCT Choir [14] Senzenina – South African Traditional [15] Weeping – Dan Heymann, arr. Luke Holder [16] Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin (b. 1950) [17] Viva la Vida – Coldplay, arr. Stephen Carletti [18] National Anthem of South Africa – E. Sontonga, M. L. de Villiers [19] Ukuthula – Zulu Traditional |