UP Youth Choir Tour to Namibia

Below is an article on the choir's Swakopmund performances: "SA YOUTH ON TOUR" that appeared in the Namibian press.  

"It goes without saying that last weekend’s choral performances were an illumination in between the cold winter nights we are presently experiencing at the coast. As Theo Cooksen conductor of the Mascato Youth Choir put it: let the young voices give you warmth, and by introducing the visiting choirs from the RSA with a play full repetition of the well known Halleluya melody by Leonard Cohen with Christine and Rio as soloist, he opened the curtain inviting the University of Pretoria Youth Choir and the Michaelhouse Boys Choir from Pietermaritzburg to show off their repertoire. 

A lively group of teenage boys jumped onto the marimbas and xylophone’s and started stirring up a lot of sound and senses transforming the NG Church Hall into a huge heap of rhythm. Showing off their talent all calmed down when young lad van Wyk Venter beautifully articulated the solo part in Haydn’s little organ mass following Byran Hall’s solo in Skyfall. Temper raised when traditional African songs were presented. 

A real classic performance of the University of Pretoria Youth Choir comprising 77 young talents from 24 schools of greater Pretoria council filled the front of the German Lutheran Church singing masterpieces conducted by Lhente-Mari Pitout. All the way through the program she gave delightful comment on each musical piece and with her soft movements encouraged the choir to give their utmost. May it be the Norwegian Sunrise, the Ave Maria from Spain or the Xhosa song thanking God that He gave us planet earth to live on. David’s lamentation touched everybody’s heart as well as “Wildsbok” conducted by assistant Herman Swanepoel. Ending in Martin Luther Kings famous speech set in music by The King Singers – dedicating this piece to Nelson Mandela – the spiritual Joshua’s battle of Jericho echoed through the ceiling calling the Mascato Choir to join in one of Ena Venter favourite songs “Lullaby”. In closing this fantastic happening, one can say that choral music is still alive amongst young people, joining hands across boundaries." 

Article by Herbert Schier