TWO SOULS BOUND BY LOVE OF CHORAL MUSIC

They say knowing a person is like music, what attracts us to them is their melody and as we get to know who they are, we learn their lyrics.

Like Sony and Cher, music was the force of attraction that brought the young couple, Gabazi and Sphiwo Nxumalo, together, they knew they were made for each other and just like that; fell hook, line and sinker!

Having conducted at church, schools and famous Sweet Sounds Choir, the couple then became conductors cementing their names in the SwaziBank Schools Choral Music Competition. Now, they have ventured off into forming their vey own choir called ‘Pure Voices’ taken from their daughter’s nickname ‘Purity’, established in October of last year.

During a lengthy interview with the couple, they shared how they juggle and balance their marriage with their professional relationship.

It is pretty evident that your love for choral music strengthened your bond and love for each other. Take us through what exactly made the two of you fall in love with each other.

When you are in the same team, automatically, everyone in that team is part of your life whether at school, work or the choir. There is that home or family relationship of caring for one another. That was the situation with us. We became friends and started talking openly with each other and as we talked, we discovered something interesting about each other. As a result, we fell in love with one another and then decided to tie the knot last year.

As individuals, when and how did you first fall in love with the art of choral music?
Fortunately for us, we both grew up in families who are Christians and attended church services all the time in our different churches. As a child, the only thing I could understand in church was singing. When we reached high school we joined the choir and since falling in love with singing at church, the love for choral music started.

Elaborate when and why you decided to form your very own choir, specialising in choral music?
Having been a conductor at church, schools and assistant conductors of Sweet Sounds, the love and passion for conducting grew. Seeing young conductors like Melisizwe Zwane of His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir and Bandile Maphalala of Royal Eswatini Police Choir with their leading them to victory, I was left so inspired. With the passion, love and inspiration and the support from friends we decided that it was time to start our own.

Pure Voices was then formed last year in October and the name was taken from our daughter’s nickname ‘Purity’. A team for six individuals were identified for their different skills and asked to be a part of this project which they gladly accepted. Together they form a committee comprising of the chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary general, treasurer, PRO and a member. Currently the choir has 55 members formed by a number of school-going children, a few tertiary students and some who are employed. So far, the choir has no sponsors therefore we rely on the directors and committee for the day to day operations of the choir. In our debut competition held recently, under the standard section category, our choir came first place becoming the champions.

Since joining Fonteyn High School Choir as conductors, the choir has experienced great success.  Firstly, how did that partnership come about and how do the two of you feel now that the choir has become one of the best?
During my time at SCOT, I used to visit my brother who resides in Fonteyn and when I completed my studies, I moved in with him. At the time, I was conducting at Mbuluzi High School. In 2013, I came across the school principal during that time. She approached me and asked if I could help start music sessions for the school.

I gladly accepted and that is how Fonteyn School Choir came to be. At that time, enrolment in the school was only about 140 or less so the entire school was involved in the choir. In the very same year, we affiliated and registered with the Swaziland National Choral Music Association (SNCMA) and took part in the open category. In 2015, I was joined by my wife and we worked together until the school entered its very first competition under the prescribed mixed B category where they came in second place in the Hhohho region.

The following year which was 2016, the choir obtained first place in the finals and was promoted to mixed A category. In 2017, it competed in that category for the first time and landed the first place spot during the elimination round and fourth position in the finals. Now in 2018, they obtained first place yet again in the elimination and finals where it was then promoted to Champ of Champs category. That’s quite an achievement and we are really happy about what we have been able to achieve so far with the school.

When a couple works together, it can become difficult to juggle a working relationship and marriage. How have the two of you been able to navigate and balance life and marriage with your professional relationship?

Well I must thank God for giving me someone who shares the same interest as me in as far as choral music is concerned. My wife likes singing and so do I and that is what we both do in our spare time. Our new choir usually rehearses once a week so that gives us the opportunity as a family to spend quality

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: