GEORGE NEWS - The voices of George met the sounds of Cape Town on Saturday 3 October when the George Male Choir and Angeliere Sing-koor held a combined rehearsal at the Groenkloof Hub.

The rehearsal formed part of preparations for the Cape Malay Choir Competition, which will take place in Cape Town on 17 October.

The occasion will mark a historic first as the George Male Choir is the first choir from outside the Cape Malay choral tradition to be invited to join a participating choir on stage at the competition.

What started as an extraordinary invitation has developed into a shared musical journey, with the two choirs learning, rehearsing and preparing to stand together on one stage.

The participation of the George Male Choir, which was established in 1982, brings together two choirs with different histories but a shared passion for singing.

During Saturday's rehearsal, the members, who say they are forging new friendships through their shared passion for singing, worked together on their performances as the countdown to the competition continued.

A combined choir practice. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel

With Xavier Jantjies as chairperson and Chrisna du Preez as choir director, the George singers have been working hard to prepare for the occasion.

The Angeliere Sing-koor, established in 1952, has deep roots in Cape Town's Bo-Kaap and District Six communities and represents generations of families dedicated to Cape Malay choral traditions. Over the decades, the choir has continued a musical tradition passed down through generations and achieved notable milestones.

Feizal Davids serves as spokesperson for the Angeliere Sing-koor and the Cape Malay Choir board.

Saturday's rehearsal offered a glimpse of what audiences can expect when these two choirs take to the stage together in Cape Town.

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