Last night the first round of Varsity Sing aired on kykNET, featuring three Western Cape universities, participating in the brand new choir singing competition.
As expected, the current World Choir champions, University of Stellenbosch (Maties), blew everyone away with their rendition of the popular Toe Vind Ek Jou by Karen Zoid and Francois van Coke. “They turned a modern song into a beautiful, classical modern song,” said guest judge and SA musician, Arno Carstens, while Christo Burger commented that Maties have set the benchmark for the other 11 choirs.
With the bar set, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) had quite a challenge ahead of them. Performing an original South African composition, they sang African Medley featuring a mixture of two different styles – the well-known Isicathamiya (made famous by Grammy award-winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo) mixed with traditional South African choral music.
“This was a very good performance,” said Marvin Kernelle, while Burger loved their vibrant sound. The smile on Loyiso Bala’s face was evidence that UWC had sung their way into the hearts of the judges.
The University of Cape Town (UCT), under the leadership of Kurt Haupt, closed the show with Italian composer Allessandro Scarlatti’s Exsultate Deo. “You took me back 20 years, to my very first year at the Drakensberg choir,” exclaimed Bala.
Next week Maties, UWC and UCT will have a final opportunity to impress the judges, when they each perform another two songs. Judges will then have the thankless task of deciding which two choirs progress to the semi-finals.
Varsity Sing will be broadcast on kykNET (DSTV channel 144) every Thursday night at 20h30 from 14 July until the live final on 13 October. For the full Varsity Sing schedule, click here.
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