March 16, 2004
By Chandrea Gerber
AS part of the 10 years of democracy celebrations, the world-renowned Drakensberg Boys' Choir will be performing at Soweto's Regina Mundi Catholic Church - a site that played a pivotal role in the struggle for that hard won democracy.
The choir is bringing their talents to Soweto as part of the celebration of a democracy that has brought with it opportunities to people who previously were denied these. "We thought it appropriate to bring a concert to Soweto aimed at an audience that under normal circumstances would not have the opportunity to see a concert by the Drakensberg Boys' Choir", said concert and tours manager, Pieter Engelbrecht.
The Drakensberg Boys' Choir will perform at Regina Mundi on Monday 22 March - for the first time - as part of their 94/04: A Decade of Democracy tour. The Soweto performance is a joint initiative between the Drakensberg Boys' Choir and the Rand Afrikaans University Chorale.
The concert programme is filled with variety - from classical greats such as Mozart and Bach to traditional African songs and gumboot dancing. The repertoire will also incorporate pieces in English, Hebrew, Greek, and Italian. Another element of the concert combines African and traditional European sounds.
The concert will speak of the shadow of the past and look at the beginning of democracy in 1994 and toward the bright future of the next democratic decade in South Africa. As part of this process the song "Rejoice South Africa", composed by former choir member Michael Barrat, will be included in the performance. The song was especially commissioned for this year's theme.
The concert starts at 3pm at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Rockville, Soweto, with tickets for the performance costing R30 available at the door.
For more information contact Jeanine Paulsen on 011 489 2269.
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