North West University Choir

North West University Choir, below are some of the history about the North West University Choir. Which you will find it interesting to join.

The Conservatory Choir was founded in 2009 by Dr Santisa Viljoen. Participation in this choir is compulsory for all voice as well as choral conducting students at the NWU School of Music. The choir specializes in repertoire from Western Art Music and attempts to present at least two concerts per year, of which one focuses on opera. Preparations for opera concerts often involve visiting directors and guest lecturers.
The choir has performed with the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra under the baton of Richard Cock. For the past three years the choir has also performed with the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra in Brooklyn Theatre, thus working with several renowned conductors. The choir also often has the privilege of working with international guest lecturers.

NWU choir performs Stabat Mater in style

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) choir at the campus in Mahikeng blew their audience away during their inaugural concert on 4 August 2018 in the Great Hall.
Students, staff, members of the local media, music enthusiasts as well as notable composers and arrangers came out in their numbers to enjoy the event.
The concert consisted of four headline performances including the host, the NWU choir, the a cappella sensation Black Note, the Potchefstroom Agricultural Choir, as well as the Ikageng Secondary school choir.
The inaugural event and closing performance was titled Stabat Mater, named after a 13th-century Catholic hymn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, which portrays her suffering during Jesus’ crucifixion.
“Events such as this is important, as it showcases to boast the talents of our students,” said Mr Sidwell Thibile, the event organiser and manager and conductor of the NWU choir. “Music is an art form and being able to share it in this manner with people who either have an interest in the event or just came to support it, is a blessing.”

NWU Choir secures top honour at regional choir competition

The choir on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng took top honours during the regional competition of the Old Mutual Choir Festival that was held on 3 September 2017 at the Rustenburg Civic Centre.
Not only was the choir crowned the overall winner of the competition, but they also secured first place in the African and second place in the Western piece categories.
According to Zenandi Liwela, chairperson of the choir, the regional winners will battle it out during the national final that will take place at Ellis Park, Johannesburg from 10 to 12 December 2017.
“I am very proud to be part of this choir. These choristers are all committed to make the NWU proud during the next level of this competition,” says Zenandi.
The National Choir Festival (NCF) is a national choral music competition conducted at district and regional/provincial level culminating in a national final. It is an annual event that runs from January to December. Old Mutual has given financial backing for this project since 1988.
The project goes beyond the borders of South Africa, with choirs from Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland joining South African choirs in this exciting music development venture. It is considered to be the biggest and best of the choir festivals and draws attendants and fans from all over the country and SADC region.

NWU choir wins Old Mutual National choir regional competition

The NWU choir at the Mafikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently participated in the Old Mutual National Choir Festival (NCF) regional competition and took top honours in the large category. The competition this year was hosted in Gaborone, Botswana on 10 September 2016.
The National Choir Festival consists of a Choral League specifically for choirs in the large category. Only the top ten choirs in the country including Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho are selected to participate. The NWU choir managed to get overall position one and a cheque of R10 000 in the large category.
The large category is made up of a French western performance called Voici de roses composed by Hector Berlioz which earned them 91 marks (Platinum). The second stage is an African performance called Kwaba Njalo composed by Mr Motuba for which they netted 84.67 marks. The choir managed an overall mark of 175.67 which automatically put them at position 5 in the NCF league,
According to the choir conductor, Mr Sidwell Thibile, four provincial competitions still have to be completed before the league ends. “The regional winners will then battle it out to be crowned as the national choir champions. I think the NWU choir has a 75% chance to make it to the national finals.”

NWU Puk Choir enchants audiences in Europe

The NWU Puk Choir charmed audiences with their exceptional singing talent during the recent 54th International Choir Competition in Spittal, Austria, and as a result received the prize as the audience’s favourite choir.
This choir also outrivalled choristers from Germany, Ireland, Slovenia and Austria, among other places, in the division for folk songs, where the NWU PUK Choir came second after the USA and Indonesia in joint first place.
This international choir competition, the Internationaler Chorwettbewerb Spittal an der Drau, known for the very high standards of the choirs competing, formed part of the NWU Puk Choir’s tour to various European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy.
Conductor Kobus Venter said it is not easy to win the Publikum prize as the audience’s favourite choir. “The audience does not only listen to the technical aspects of a choir’s performance, but also looks out for the ’heart’ of the choir. There were so many outstanding choirs from across the world, and winning this prize was an exceptional achievement and a very big honour. It also was a special privilege to be able to share our traditional music on a world stage.”
Hanru de Vos, chairperson of the NWU Puk Choir, said they believe they managed to promote appreciation for choir music and at the same time touch people’s hearts during this year’s European tour.
It is clear from the highlights that the NWU Puk Choir experienced in Europe that they have the singing talent to compete with the best in the world and be victorious.
Visit the NWU Puk Choir’s Facebook page for photos and videos of the historic tour. The choir’s new CD, Ukuthula, is available from NWU Potch Arts in the Heimat Building (F9).