Two Zimbabwean Groups Off for the World Choir Games

Zimbabwean choral groups Choice Children’s Choir and Note2etoN have qualified to compete at the World Choir Games (WCG) for the first time. The games will be held in Tshwane, South Africa, from 4 to 13 July.

The two choirs will compete against more than 400 choirs from around the world for top honours in 27 categories. The event, which is set to premiere a new anthem, will give the the two choirs the opportunity to interact with singers from different parts of the world.

“We went through an audition process by sending recordings of the choir performing,” Choice Children’s Choir director Bright Gwati told Music In Africa. “These were sent to World Choir Games judges in Germany who agreed that we managed to fulfill the standards of competing at the games.”

Gwati said he was happy to be part of the world’s biggest choral competition. “I feel proud and excited to be taking Zimbabwean talent to the World Choir Games. But more importantly, we are showcasing Zimbabwean music, choral arrangements and culture to an international audience,” Gwati said, adding that this will be the choir’s first performance outside the country.

Note2etoN choir director Sabelo Nyoni told Music In Africa that she had always wanted to compete at WCG. “For a long time it has been my dream to form a choir and take it to this event,” she said. “I am excited, a little nervous, but I am looking forward to spending an entire week in the world of choral music only.”

Asked how her choir was selected to compete at the event, Nyoni said: “We read about the games coming to South Africa on various media platforms,” she said. “We submitted our audio recordings and we were accepted. This is the first time the World Choir Games are coming to Africa. In the past years they have been in Europe and the US, so we decided not to miss out on this opportunity.”

Note2etoN, which will also be performing and competing outside Zimbabwe for the first time, will leave Harare on 2 July. The ensemble will compete in the Mixed Choirs and Scenic Folklore categories on 6 and 7 July respectively.

Meanwhile, the government through the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), has called for the country to rally behind the two choral groups.

“The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation with the NACZ are rendering national support for the two choral groups to represent Zimbabwe at the higher level,” NACZ acting communication and marketing manager Cathrine Mthombeni said. “The sendoff ceremony for the choirs will be held tomorrow [Saturday] at Reps Theatre in Harare.”

Choice Children’s Choir comprises pupils from government and private schools in Harare while Note2etoN is an adult community choir composed of 40 singers, a mbira player and two conductors.