St George’s junior choir places sixth
The St George's Prep School's junior choir made the Top 10 list of junior choirs in South Africa. They achieved sixth place in the ATKV Applous Competition for junior choirs, with an average of 86%.
ATKV Applous is the oldest and biggest school choir competition in South Africa. It is the second time the St George's junior choir has made the Top 10. The last time was in 2015, when they also achieved sixth place.
Since 2013, Jolanda Amoraal, the school's music teacher, has conducted the choir. This year, the choir performed three songs at the regional finals in Windhoek, including the prescribed piece ‘Man in die Maan’. The other songs were: ‘Rain Song’, composed especially for this choir by the Namibian composer Gililie Uajenenisa Njembo, and the Lozi traditional song, ‘Nyalungwe (The Chief)’.
The St George's junior choir has approximately 100 members from grades one to three. Amoraal said the recipe for success with this choir is discipline and choir arrangement. She makes sure learners from the same grades don't stand together.
"There should also always be an element of fun for the learners when performing. It is of great entertainment value for the audience," she said.
For her, these young choir members must enjoy what they do. They should be committed to practices and performances and develop musically.
"These young learners always surprise me at performances or competitions like this. Even when one might be frustrated before the competition, they pull a rabbit out of the hat and deliver an excellent performance, singing beautifully and paying attention to everything indicated,” she said.
"We do have our annual concerts at school, but I feel it is important to participate in these competitions to raise the level of the choir's performance.”
The St George's junior choir also participated in the Western Cape Virtual Eistedfodd earlier this year and obtained 90% for their performance. They have entered the University of South Africa music exam for choirs that will take place later this year.
Since 2013, Jolanda Amoraal, the school's music teacher, has conducted the choir. This year, the choir performed three songs at the regional finals in Windhoek, including the prescribed piece ‘Man in die Maan’. The other songs were: ‘Rain Song’, composed especially for this choir by the Namibian composer Gililie Uajenenisa Njembo, and the Lozi traditional song, ‘Nyalungwe (The Chief)’.
The St George's junior choir has approximately 100 members from grades one to three. Amoraal said the recipe for success with this choir is discipline and choir arrangement. She makes sure learners from the same grades don't stand together.
"There should also always be an element of fun for the learners when performing. It is of great entertainment value for the audience," she said.
For her, these young choir members must enjoy what they do. They should be committed to practices and performances and develop musically.
"These young learners always surprise me at performances or competitions like this. Even when one might be frustrated before the competition, they pull a rabbit out of the hat and deliver an excellent performance, singing beautifully and paying attention to everything indicated,” she said.
"We do have our annual concerts at school, but I feel it is important to participate in these competitions to raise the level of the choir's performance.”
The St George's junior choir also participated in the Western Cape Virtual Eistedfodd earlier this year and obtained 90% for their performance. They have entered the University of South Africa music exam for choirs that will take place later this year.
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