3 June 2005

By Clifford Mogotsi

THE Mogale City centenary hall was filled with the harmonious sounds of massed choirs last week when the massed school choirs of Gauteng gathered for the nail-biting first round of the Tirisano Schools Choral Eisteddford (TSCE). It was the first time the event had taken place in Mogale City.

The province's best mixed choirs from senior and junior primary, secondary and senior secondary schools, showed off their vocal gymnastics. However, the competition was won by Laerskool Kenmare, a local school from district two, which earned a place at the national championships.

Solos, duets and small ensembles were also featured at the massive competition.

Willy Mokatsanyane, a representative of the Gauteng department of education, said Mogale was chosen to host the event because of its facilities. "We, the organisers, have to check the capacity of halls and space for rehearsals. We opted for Mogale because it has all that is required for hosting [such] large events."

The TSCE has become the largest choral musical event in the country, with more than 27 000 schools getting an opportunity to participate each year. In the past two years just 19 schools and 11 soloists have met the strict criteria of the National Steering Committee to qualify for incentives.

Mokatsanyane said a competition like this had never been held in Mogale City, though he added it would bring unity to local schools. Since the competition was set up by the Department of Education, it had unified previously fragmented school music competitions.

Bulelani Primary School

Even at this initial stage of the provincial championship, the learners showed determination, their faces expressing their passion for the music. Young stars hailed music as a tool to achieve harmony and unity in diversity.

AS the singing voices filled the hall, it was easy to understand that music had the power to transcend racial, cultural and socio-economic barriers among performers and audience.

The West Rand's Thutuzekani Senior Primary cracked second position. The school's winning song, Thina bantabasha (loosely translated as "We young people"), mesmerized the audience.

Lucas Letsholo, the district two steering committee member, said the competition had revived choral music in Mogale and on the entire West Rand. "There are schools that have never entered a competition of this sort and we are glad to see them on stage."

A delighted district two sealed its winnings when Randfontein High School was placed third. Laerskool Kenmare will represent both the West Rand and Gauteng in the national championships on 7 to 10 July, at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg. The TSCE programme is a joint venture between the Department of Education and First National Bank.