School choirs perform at Artscape
6 June 2022
The Western Cape's best school choirs performed at the Opera House at Artscape in Cape Town in the provincial final of the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE).
The choristers were vying for the honour of representing the Western Cape at the National ABC Motsepe SASCE Championship from 28 June - 01 July 2022 at the Rhema Church in Johannesburg.
The competition is aimed at enhancing the various singing talents of South African learners through various stage performances and music. It is one of the flagship programmes of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in the school enrichment and extra-mural space. This year marked the programme’s 25th year on the school calendar.
It caters for learners from Grade R to 12. All public schools in the province with choirs could register to participate in this eisteddfod.
District elimination rounds were held from 6 – 21 May 2022 and culminated in the provincial finals from 26 – 28 May 2022. For many learners it was the first time that they were exposed to the iconic performing arts venue.
The first day of the competition saw Foundation and Intermediate Phase choirs participating. Lwandle Primary School’s rendition of ‘Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel' earned them first position in the Foundation Phase category. Siyafuneka Primary and Nalikamva Primary were in second and third place.
Gateway Primary School’s Boys Choir won the first place with Vuselela Primary and Mseki Primary’s performances of ‘From a distance’ putting them in second and third place.
Nalikamva Primary won the African category and Vukani Primary and Injongo were in second and third place.
The winners in the Intermediate Phase were Injongo Primary in the Western category, Abedare Primary in the African category, Gateway Primary Boys Choir and Wallacedene Primary in the Social ills and Folklore section.
Furrther Education and Training (FET) Phase soloist and mixed choirs competed on the final two days. In the FET Secondary Schools Open Section, Harry Gwala Secondary School’s Female Choir came first. Chris Hani Secondary had the best Soprano performance. Harry Gwala Secondary won in the Mezzo Soprano/Alto category, Intsebenziswano Secondary had the best Tenor and Baritone performances. Weskus Skool won in the Special School category.
Joe Slovo Secondary rendered the winning performance in the Western section and Zola Secondary were the winners in the African section.
Kayamandi Secondary's Male Choir received the best score, Chris Hani Secondary’s Trio came first and Harry Gwala Secondary’s Quintet were victorious. Harry Gwala Seconday also walked away with top honours in the Western section. Fezeka Secobdary won in the African section and Bloekombos Secondary came firsr in the Social Ills and Indigenous Folklore Section.
The following special awards were presented:
- Best Soprano – Sikhikhi Khanyisa – Chris Hani Secondary (Metro East)
- Best Conductor Primary Schools – Mr Mandla Kala (Injongo Primary – Metro East)
- Best Conductor Secondary Schools – Mr Mondi Mdingi (Fezeka Secondary – Metro Central)
- Best District (Discipline of choirs, documentation, punctuality of choirs) – West Coast Education District
