More than 35 choirs will compete at the OR Tambo Choral Music Festival in Mthatha this weekend.
Organised by the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), the Eastern Cape Music
Association (ECCMA) and OR Tambo District Municipality the competition will feature, among others, top Eastern Cape ensemble the Ezibeleni Talent Development Choir. Ezibeleni recently competed at the Eastern Cape Melting Pot Arts Festival, the National Choir Festival and OR Tambo Choral Festival.
Another outstanding choir is Ukhozi conducted by Dumisani Tembani, based in the OR Tambo
District. They are the reigning champions in the Large Category and they will be back on the
stage to defend their title. They will be competing, among others, against the experienced Modern Artists Vocal Association (MAVA) also from OR Tambo and the veteran Butterworth Services Choir from Amathole District.
The competing choirs were selected from eight districts of the Department in the Province, where
eliminations were conducted and two top choirs per category in the mixed voices, large and standard categories, as well as the winner in all ensembles and gender based choirs, qualify for participation at the provincial finals.
This exciting Choral Music Festival is a build-up to the OR Tambo Centenary celebrations in Mbizana on 27 October. Competition will start at 9am on Saturday 21 October and continue through Sunday. The venue is the OR Tambo Hall in Southernwood, Mthatha.
