Times Of Swaziland: TIGHTER COMPETITION FOR 2017 CHORAL FEST

TIGHTER COMPETITION FOR 2017 CHORAL FEST
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BY NHLANHLA MATHUNJWA on 10/01/2017 23:40:00


MBABANE – Choral music lovers should brace themselves for an  exciting year in
the industry as choirs have been told to gear up for a tighter competition in
this year’s first choral music competition.
The choirs have been told to work hard this year as the Swaziland National
Choral Music Association (SNCMA) intends to send more choirs to international
competitions. This means their standard of judging will be even stricter as they
expect a flawless, harmonious rendition each time a choir takes the stage.
Some of the international competitions in which Swaziland participates include
the Old Mutual Choral Music Festival and the Melting Pot Festival.
The first competition is scheduled for April 30 and over 13 choirs are expected
to participate.
Among the choirs that choral music lovers want to see competing are the Royal
Swaziland Police, Sweet Sounds, His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir,
Manzini Choir and Mbabane Methodist Church Choir.
While expected to compete in the standard section are the Royal Swazi Spa,
Sishayingoma Choristers, Giant Clothing and Florence Catholic Church Choir.  The
choirs have been advised to start working hard as early as the year begins, so
that by the time the competition starts, choristers are ready.
Jozana Maziya, SNCMA Chairperson said the whole idea was for them to try and
improve the choral music industry and the choirs are expected to play a role in
this.
“Most choirs start their rehearsals very late, which we do not encourage. For
a choir to be ready, it has to start preparations on time as the choristers need
enough time to rehearse the songs,” he said.