EST'1981
About Us
Finding Innovation in Every Turn
The Mpumalanga Youth choir is a provincial choir that was originally established in 1981 as the Eastern Transvaal Youth choir, later it changed its name to the Mpumalanga Youth choir. We envisage to rekindle the desire in the youth to sing choral and entertainment music by singing it in such a manner as to create the yearning in the hearts of the youth to be part of the chorus and the desire in the older generation to listen to the younger generation make this mellifluous music.
Our Story
History
The Mpumalanga Youth Choir was originally established in 1981 as the Eastern Transvaal Youth Choir, under the protection of the TED (Transvaal Education Department) and the initiative of John Gray. Renette Bouwer, currently choir mistress of the University of Johannesburg Kingsway choir, was the first conductor. When Esmé Solms took over in 1985, she continued the good work and built on the foundation laid by Renette. Under Esmé’s hand, The Eastern Transvaal Youth Choir became an international prize-winning Choir. The choir therefore changed its name to the Mpumalanga Youth Choir in 1994.Although the choir is currently self-sufficient, it is still reckoned as the official provincial choir as intended by the TED in 1981. In 2006 Surette Prinsloo became the Conductor of the choir and led it from success to success in the 9 years that she led. Andre Oosthuizen took over the choir in 2015 and he is still the current Conductor. In 2017 they participated in the Talent Africa competition and were subsequently invited to participate in the Talent America in New York, but due to lack of finances and sponsors the choir couldn’t go. In 2018 the choir participated in the World Choir Games and obtained a silver in the open youth choir division.
Achievements
In 1981, during their first European tour, the choir participated in the Graz international Choir Competition. They also toured Europe in 1995, participating in the Advent-competition in Prague where they were awarded a first prize, as well as being the best youth choir in the competition. In 2004 they participated again and were awarded a silver medal for Young adult choirs.
• In 2013 the choir released a single “Ekuthuleni” written by former chorister Lwandile Nkosi and composed by former Conductor Surette Prinsloo and was first performed by the Mpumalanga Youth Choir.
• In 2015, the choir won the Talent Africa competition and were invited to participate in a Talent Competition in New York, unfortunately the choir couldn’t go due the luck of time to raise the funds.
• In 2016, the choir was invited to several choir festivals such as Cantatuks and were the main guests at the Mbombela Choir festival in November 2016. They were also invited to sing with Vaughn Gardner the Theme song at the premier of the Afrikaans movie Uitvlught.
• In 2018 we took part in the World Games of choirs in the Youth Choir category, where we attained a silver certificate.
• In 2019 the choir competed in the Talent Africa 2019 national competition where we obtained gold colors in the 4x categories that we participated in. The choir was therefore invited to go to Talent America in New York, but due to financial problems our choir couldn’t make it there. The choir was also awarded provincial and federation colors by FPASA (Federation of Performing Arts South Africa). If we were to perform on a national stage, we would have been awarded national colors as well.
In 2019 the choir also got the opportunity to be invited at a yearly event (innibos)in Nelspruit to Open the event with the National Anthem of South Africa. We also performed at the “Loof hom konsert” that was held by innibos in Nelspruit. As time went by we got the privilege to share the stage with few of the famous artist : Khaya Mthethwa, Rebecca Malope, Lira, Pastor Makhudu and the very famous Mzansi Youth Choir in the Mpumalanga show that was hosted in Mbombela Stadium.
One of our highlights in 2019 was when we hosted the friendship concert at Emseni Camp side outside Drakensberg and we were in collaboration with the Drakensberg Boys Choir, Highveld Youth Choir and the Northern Natal Youth Choir. We got to perform with these choirs at the Drakensberg Boys Choir stage altogether and at Emseni Camp side where the Mpumalanga Youth Choir hosted the friendship concert. We closed off the 2018/19 Choir time in a good spirit with our Prestige Choir Evening hoping that the 2019/20 choir year would be a success.
• In 2020 we got the opportunity to be invited to lift some spirits at a Memorial service of Former Premier Minister of Mpumalanga Mathews Maphosa’s late eldest daughter. We had a planned 2019/2020 year hoping to achieve more, but the Corona Virus Pandemic got on our way.
Further more in 2020 we got back together as a choir after six months of not seeing one another. We then had to prepare for videos that we had to send to Talent America , the choir performed two songs which we got 1st place and 2nd place. The Mpumalanga was therefore awarded international colours and recognition during the pandemic. Everything was successful, our first goal was then accomplished.
Heraldry
Emblazoned within the colors of Mpumalanga (previously the eastern Transvaal), the coat of arms, designed in 1981, is symbolic of the cultural union within the province of the objective of reaching out to the community through high quality choir song.
The triangular design incorporating the choirmasters extended arms, supports the statement of Philip McLachlan, the father of choir music, -“my biggest moments in music production is when the perfect triangle forms between the choir, the choirmaster and the creator. That is inspiring”. The symbolic ‘rising sun’ is incorporated into select informal attire, with maroon, black and yellow, adorning the gilets in which the choir performs.
Composition
The Mpumalanga Youth Choir is comprised of High school and post-matrics pupils, hailing from the greater Mpumalanga area. The choir was extended three years ago to include members from Lowveld.
Towns represented are Nelspruit, White River, Barberton, Belfast, Groblersdal, Middelburg, and Witbank. The Choir is planning on including Lydenburg and few towns around there.
The choir’s program contains music from a wide range of genres, periods, works of masters and upcoming composers. Auditions are held every year from May to August for new members to replace outgoing members. Weekly rehearsals are held at Belfast Academy in Belfast each Friday from 15:00 pm20:00 pm.
The rehearsals are held in Belfast on account of it being the middle town. The choir performs anytime since it is a provincial Choir that performs at a Provincial level.
Finances
The Mpumalanga Youth Choir is a non-Profitable entity As no fixed grant is received, the choir is dependent on donations and sponsorships to reach its objectives. Members pay membership fees which cover most administrative expenses.