GEORGE NEWS - A group of 49 members of the South Cape Children's Choir and the newly established South Cape Youth Choir departed on a European concert tour on Wednesday 22 April to represent South Africa at a prestigious international music festival.
Under the leadership of Jan-Erik Swart and accompanied by Jacques Lakey, the tour will take the choirs to Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, where they will perform in venues such as the Cologne Cathedral and alongside the Essen Cathedral Boys' Choir in the Essen Cathedral.
Several concerts in the Netherlands and Belgium also form part of the programme.
A highlight of the tour is the participation in the 74th European Music Festival for Youth (EMJ) in Pelt, Belgium, where thousands of young singers from around the world gather to celebrate music, culture and international friendship.
Choir members will be hosted partly by families in Germany and Belgium, which reduces costs and allows for valuable cultural exchange. Between their performances, they will also visit various historical and cultural attractions.
After months of intensive preparation, the choirs will present a joint programme of 22 works, ranging from the Baroque Period to modern compositions. They will also compete in two categories at the EMJ.
The South Cape Children’s and Youth Choirs, under the leadership of Jan-Erik Swart, at their recent send-off showcase performance in the DR Church Denneoord on Saturday 18 April. Photo: Supplied
Their participation builds on a strong international history for the choirs, which includes successful European tours and recognition at previous EMJ festivals. The young singers are regarded as ambassadors for South African youth talent and cultural understanding.
The touring group, which also includes seven officials and eight parent supporters, will return to South Africa on 6 May, after which professional music video recordings of their programme will follow.
"As conductor, this tour is extremely valuable in preparing our members at an international level for the World Choir Games, which will take place in three years' time. We are currently ranked among the top 1 000 choirs in the world on the International Federation of Choral Music [IFCM] ranking list, and we aim to be recognised among the top 100," said Jan-Erik Swart, conductor of the South Cape Children's and Youth Choir.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
