Preparations for the e’Bosch Schools Choir Festival 2022 received a good boost this past weekend with the visit of the Gauteng Schools Youth Choir (GSYC), providing an opportunity for different groups in the discipline to exchange knowledge, skill and experience, also part of the spirit of promoting social cohesion.
The 40-strong contingent of the GSYC joined one of the regular e’Bosch Schools Choir Festival workshops in preparation for their performances in September this year. Everyone was treated to a performance afterwards by the GSYC under the baton of Neville Smith.
According to Marius Venter, GSYC coordinator and Deputy Chief Educational Specialist from the Gauteng Department of Education, the visit was part of the department’s community outreach programme, which also included workshops with Cape Town Opera and participation in the Stellenbosch Chamber Festival.
“We are very impressed with the Gauteng Schools Youth Choir visiting e’Bosch,” said Dr Sias Mostert, chair of the e’Bosch Board of Directors. “We shared our experiences in best practice across a wide range of topics as it relates to use of arts and culture to promote social cohesion and provide development opportunities for the school-going children and the youth. We both look forward to further collaboration in the areas of heritage economy development for social cohesion and economic development.
The regular e’Bosch Schools Choir Festival workshops are presented by conductor John Frans, newly appointed school choir coordinator in preparation for the final performances in September this year.
About six high schools and 20 primary schools from the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek districts will take part in this annual festival of song this year.
