STD BANK CHORAL MUSIC COMPETITION CALLED-OFF!

MBABANE - Cancellations, postponements and closures!

These are three words which keep on coming up in the entertainment industry, especially after government announced the prohibition of a gathering of 50 or more people. The Standard Bank Choral Music Competition is  no exception as it has  been postponed. The competition was  postponed yesterday in a statement that was released by the host, Eswatini National Choral Music Association (ENCMA). The ENCMA Chairperson, Sihle Gumbi,  said they had noted the recent developments in regards the COVID-19 outbreak locally and globally with the number of cases rising alarmingly in neighbouring South Africa where they source most of their expertise and personnel.

“In the wake of these developments, an urgent meeting was called by Standard Bank at the bank’s headquarters today wherein a decision was taken to indefinitely postpone the much anticipated competition which had been scheduled to take place on the 5th of April 2020. “Present at this meeting were representatives from the Executive committee of  ENCMA , the bank, co-sponsors Liberty Life Swaziland and MacMillan. The bank has duly noted the advice from the Ministry of Health and government on the outbreak,” said Gumbi. He said they had  also noted the protocols put in place to help mitigate its spread with regard to social gatherings and on the basis of prioritising the health of all concerned, the decision was taken to postpone the competition indefinitely.“The sponsors did, however,  take into account the submissions made by the ENCMA on choirs and all the sponsors having invested already in the event. This, then, led to the agreement of avoiding a cancelation with a postponement deemed only fair under these trying times,” he said.

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He highlighted that no sponsorship was withdrawn and said they hoped to host the competition this year, depending on the situation. The competition was slated for April 5 at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha. His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Choir  conductor Melisizwe Zwane said this was a huge blow for choirs, and them specifically. “Our year is divided into quarters with the Standard Bank competition falling in the first quarter of the year. The competition is the most important in the local calendar as it allows us to not only regroup, but sets the tone for standards to maintain for the remainder of the year.

“We also have been hit hard because we had already invested in the competition and those are funds we cannot recover now which went towards chorister transportation and meals more so for camps,” said Zwane.  He also said while they did feel the burden of this postponement, they needed  to  commend the sponsors and association for prioritising the health and safety of their choristers. “Human life trumps all else,” he said. Manzini Choir conductor Mlungisi Dlamini said though the reason behind the postponement was well understood and accepted, it greatly affected their planning because they had to cancel all plans that were made in advance such as camps and piano sessions.

“Also, postponement has been made worse by the government statement on gatherings of not more than 50 now one has to look for alternative ways of how best to prepare the choir for the same competition when it resumes as we are forced to suspend all practice sessions,” said Dlamini. He then said they would try their best to ensure they keep the choir ready during this period and at the same time, ensuring that they practiced good health standard to ensure that the COVID-19 was not contracted or transmitted by their members.

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