Local choir Canticum Novum is set to mesmerise listeners with their harmony on Sunday 6 November 2022.
The a cappella choir specialises in sacred music and includes members from across the Cape Winelands. One of the oldest choirs in South Africa, Canticum celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019. Its name and motto come from Psalm 98, “Sing to the Lord a new song!”
As an outreach choir it performs at church services, at old-age and children’s homes, prisons and night shelters, and presents concerts in choral and orchestral format.
From 2022 the choir has been affiliated to the Helderberg Dutch Reformed church in Somerset West, forming part of its outreach and functioning in various capacities.
It has been under the direction of Yolanda Botha, organist at the Helderberg DRC, since 2018. She is also an active performer, choir and orchestra conductor as well as the musical director and founder of the concert series Classical Sound. Bennie van Eeden, renowned pianist and retired Stellenbosch University lecturer, acts as accompanist.
Canticum’s year-end concert will take place in the historic Rhenish church at the Braak in Stellenbosch on Sunday 6 November at 18:00. The programme consists of sacred music of many genres. Well-loved works such as Dvorák’s beautiful ‘Largo’, the meditative music of Taizé and contemporary works by Ola Gjeilo and Karl Jenkins are sure to captivate audiences. Entrance is free, but donations are welcome. Funds received are used to further the choir’s outreach objectives.
To find out how to join the choir, or to follow its activities, please visit its Facebook page, “CanticumNovumStb”, or email canticumnovumstb@gmail.com.
