Artists Choirs Jury Past Participants

 

South African Youth Choir

This choir from South Africa was established in 2005 and is a first for the country.  Members are auditioned nationally and accommodated in a hostel in Durbanville, Cape Town.  All hostel members attend the Stellenberg High School and are provided with high quality education and music training.  In the true spirit of ubuntu the choir is a human project.  Members reflect the true demographics of South Africa and celebrate unity within cultural diversity.  Since 2005 the choir has been developed into a unique musical product of international standard and won a gold diploma at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales in 2006.  International media hailed the choir as a true export product of South Africa.  Many members come from disadvantaged areas and are orphans.  They are the raw talent of South Africa.  The choir offers them a voice.  And hope.

André van der Merwe

André van der Merwe is a conductor and composer from Durbanville, Cape Town.  He is a popular guest conductor and is regularly invited to perform as adjudicator and clinician across the world.  Most recently he has been invited to England, Sweden, Germany, Japan and China.  In 2007 he adjudicated in Wales for the Cor Cymru, Opus T V and this year  in Austria at the World Choir Games for Musica Mundi.  At present he conducts two other choirs as well as the South African Youth Choir.  They are the Stellenberg Girls Choir and the Stellenbosch University Choir. All choirs have won many national and international awards and prizes.