Africa-Press – Eswatini. LOCAL choirs continue to shine in international stages as they proved over the weekend during the Battle of the Nations at the Meloding ya Tshwane Choral Music Festival in Pretoria.
The choirs bagged a total of E200 000 in prize money and trophies.
The competition was hosted by the Tshwane Choral Music Association at the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi Campus.
Four local choirs being His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir, Manzini Choir, Mbabane Methodist Choir and Royal Eswatini Police Choir participated in the competition under the Battle of the Nations category.
His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir emerged as champions in this category, winning themselves a trophy and E80 000 prize money for their sterling performance.
Overall, the choir topped the category with 187 points with runner-ups Manzini Choir amassing 20 points less while on fifth position was Mbabane Methodist Choir.
Meanwhile, REPS Choir occupied the last spot with 144 points. The combined scores of the three choirs, which was 515 points, saw the locals snatching the championship from their SA counterparts and walked away with E120 000, which will be shared among the four choirs.
Sihle Gumbi received the battle of the nations trophy while Melisizwe Zwane received the championship trophy.
The conductor of HMCS Choir, Zwane, thanked the choiristers for the work they put in.
“The choir did very well even though this was a tough competition as we know South African choirs are also good. There was great motivation on our part since this is our second time competing at this platform.
Last year we got second position and we were eager to improve from this,” he said.
Zwane said SA was a yardstick upon which Eswatini choirs could gauge themselves as the South Africans have the resources.
“I would like to thank the CEO of Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture for the support, having personally come here to back the choirs. This was a morale booster for the choirs, hence we have brought the trophy home,” he said.
Zwane also appreciated the financial support received from some partners as it went a long in helping the choirs prepare.
They were competing with three SA choirs as the fourth choir pulled out of the competition. The three remaining choirs were Gauteng Singers, Free State Singers and SA Singers.
Proud moment to be Liswati – ENCAC
ESWATINI National Council of Arts and Culture CEO Stanley Dlamini said the local choirs had made them proud to be Emaswati.
He applauded the hosts, Tshwane Choral Music Association (TCMA) and their sponsors for the idea and also including Emaswati in this important music showpiece.
“They realised that for their music to be at the standard it was they needed to invite us. We appreciate the set up and format in which it was done. Among the local choirs there was also the element of teamwork, which made things easier for us.
“No choir can boast about being better than the other, especially in the battle on the nations. This promotes the brotherhood spirit among the choirs,” Dlamini said.
Travelled
The CEO was accompanied by Mathokoza Sibiya, a legendary conductor and composer of note who was the leader of the delegation.
A number of Emaswati also travelled with the choirs to give them the much needed support. They were excited about the results, especially after the four choirs swept the boards.
…Sponsor thanks Eswatini choirs
THE main sponsor and team behind the competition thanked Eswatini choirs for accepting the invitation to participate in the competition.
Managing Directo of Bokamoso Bus Service said the idea of the battle of the nations was to unite the neighbouring countries and also the choral music fraternity in the region.
“As the sponsors we are excited about the high standard of music we have witnessed here today.
“We appreciate the tight competition displayed by the visiting choirs from Eswatini. They exhibited quality music today,” he said.
The chairman for Bokamoso also highlighted that as a sponsor and owner of the choir he could not allow it to participate to avoid unfair competition.
Understanding
“I would like to thank my choir for understanding and co-operating when I asked them not to compete.
They were here as a guest choir, something which I greatly appreciate. As a way of appreciation, I have a E250 000 gift to be shared among the choristers,” he said, much to loud applause from the choir and music lovers present.
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