LOCAL CHOIRS IN E120 000 ORCHESTRA BILL DILEMMA

MBABANE – It seems that participating in the Old Mutual Choral Music Festival set for Durban will hit hard on the pockets of local choirs.

This is because being accompanied by an orchestra does not come cheap as the four local choirs need at least E120 000 for the rehearsals.
An orchestra is a group of instrumentalists, especially one combining string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections and playing classical music.
Unfortunately, Swaziland does not have an orchestra.

Manzini Choir, Sweet Sounds, Correctional Services Choir and the Royal Swazi Spa are faced with an orchestra bill in preparations for the upcoming Old Mutual Choral Music Festival finals.
All four choirs are expected to be accompanied when they compete in the finals.
The arrangement was that they would have the orchestra coming into the country to rehearse with all the choirs at least a week before the finals.

Reason

However, they need at least E80 000 which is the rehearsal fee for the orchestra. For accommodation and transport of the orchestra, the choirs need E40 000.
The reason the choirs felt the orchestra should come into the country was because it becomes difficult for them to rehearse with them on the Friday ahead of the finals.

Sometimes they end up not rehearsing as in most cases the orchestra is fully booked on this day.
Mzwakhe Khumalo, Swaziland National Choral Music Association (SNCMA) confirmed the plan of bringing the orchestra into the country.
“The only problem is the expense. The intention was to at least have the orchestra coming into the country before the finals so they could conduct rehearsals with the choirs. Our wish is to have the choirs ready at least a week before the finals.”

Khumalo said the association had already indicated to the Swaziland National of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) about their intention of having the organising proper rehearsals of the choirs.

“While still waiting for a response from the SNCAC, we will continue with our fund-raising campaigns. We have to see to it that the choirs get enough time with the orchestra. Our wish is to see all the choirs coming back home with trophies and this will happen if the preparations are done accordingly.”

David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs with Stanley Dlamini, Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture CEO have asked the SNCMA to prepare a budget and submit it as soon as possible, saying choirs would receive the necessary support.

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