October 12, 2006
By Michael Tsingo
MOST people know Transnet as the state transport group – in fact, it is the largest transport and logistics company in Africa. And with 1 885 choristers among its employees, it is also a continental giant in running choirs.
These singers are to gather in Johannesburg for the Transnet National Internal Choirs Competition at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre on Saturday, 21 October. The annual event, hosted by Transnet's corporate social investment arm, the Transnet Foundation, focuses on improving the lives of Transnet employees.
Choirs are required to have a minimum of 50 percent staff participation and are aimed at boosting employee morale and enhancing the value of their lives by involving as many people as possible from different walks of life in competitive activities. All staff members and their families can take part.
Choirs from different Transnet business units will compete at the Civic Theatre
According to the Transnet Foundation website, the competition promotes choral music in all of the company's business units. It is designed to entertain, educate and develop choral music among employees and each choir consists of an average of 65 choristers, including a manager and a conductor.
"Choral music is the most popular art form in South Africa," says the foundation's Suzie Mabie. "You may not find a dance club in the smallest village or even the largest township in South Africa, but you will find a choir."
The South African Port Operations Port Elizabeth Choir is the defending champion and other competing choirs this year are the Metrorail Cape Town Choir, the Spoornet Johannesburg Choir, the Transwerk Bloemfontein Choir, and the Transwerk Durban Choir. These five were selected from the regional choirs competitions, in which about 20 choirs fought to qualify for the national competition.
After the choral competition, from 11am to 2pm, there will be performances from groups such as Moving into Dance Mophatong, and a gala concert at 7pm, after which the winning choir will be announced.
The competition's chief adjudicator, Ludumo Magangane, the co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Bonisudumo Choristers, will announce the winner.
Magangane will also conduct the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, which will perform Mozart's Overture of the Marriage of Figaro. Several other works by Mozart will also feature as this year is the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth. The orchestra and soloists Abel Moeng, Thamsanqa Mqaba, Phindile Shongwe and Zanele Gumede will accompany the various choirs.
Mabie points out that the event is free. Tickets are available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.
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