Latest News Archive
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News Items
2020-02-26 |
UFS to host public lecture with Governor of Reserve Bank |
2020-02-26 |
UFS to host public lecture with Governor of Reserve Bank |
2020-02-26 |
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity |
2020-02-26 |
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity |
2020-02-25 |
Kovsie alumna secures spot on SAICA Honours Roll |
2020-02-25 |
Kovsie alumna secures spot on SAICA Honours Roll |
2020-02-24 |
Schools honoured for delivering top Kovsie students |
2020-02-24 |
Schools honoured for delivering top Kovsie students |
2020-02-18 |
UFS collaborates with Gift of the Givers to improve food security |
2020-02-18 |
UFS collaborates with Gift of the Givers to improve food security |
2020-02-18 |
Proud new Kovsies tell their stories |
2020-02-18 |
Proud new Kovsies tell their stories |
2020-02-18 |
UFS shines light on bright matriculant stars |
2020-02-18 |
UFS shines light on bright matriculant stars |
2020-02-18 |
UFS Mental Health Student Toolkit a winning formula |
2020-02-18 |
UFS Mental Health Student Toolkit a winning formula |
2020-02-18 |
Download KovsieApp for real-time urgent communication |
2020-02-18 |
Download KovsieApp for real-time urgent communication |
2020-02-17 |
UFS Student Toolkit first of its kind in South Africa |
2020-02-17 |
UFS Student Toolkit first of its kind in South Africa |
2020-02-13 |
CUADS: human rights-based support for students with disabilities |
2020-02-13 |
CUADS: human rights-based support for students with disabilities |
2020-02-12 |
Strong transformational focus at faculty opening, celebrating 40 years |
2020-02-12 |
Strong transformational focus at faculty opening, celebrating 40 years |
2020-02-12 |
Expo promises to keep Bloemfontein healthy and fit |
2020-02-12 |
Expo promises to keep Bloemfontein healthy and fit |
2020-02-12 |
Active citizenship and accountability can save South Africa from the precipice |
2020-02-12 |
Active citizenship and accountability can save South Africa from the precipice |
2020-02-11 |
Endless possibilities for women in science, says UFS zoologist |
2020-02-11 |
Endless possibilities for women in science, says UFS zoologist |
2020-02-11 |
Qwaqwa first-year students formally welcomed to the UFS |
2020-02-11 |
Qwaqwa first-year students formally welcomed to the UFS |
2020-02-11 |
Visibility and impact the focus in 2020 |
2020-02-11 |
Visibility and impact the focus in 2020 |
2020-02-07 |
New principal exhorts South Campus students to ‘unlock their future’ |
2020-02-07 |
New principal exhorts South Campus students to ‘unlock their future’ |
2020-02-07 |
Kovsie Alumni Trust secures R2,4 million in funding to relieve student debt |
2020-02-07 |
Kovsie Alumni Trust secures R2,4 million in funding to relieve student debt |
2020-02-07 |
Get your 2020 vision clear with the new Kovsie Advice |
2020-02-07 |
Get your 2020 vision clear with the new Kovsie Advice |
2020-02-06 |
Symposium bridges the gap between students, staff, and management |
2020-02-06 |
Symposium bridges the gap between students, staff, and management |
2020-02-06 |
Clarification of urgent notice regarding accredited and non-accredited accommodation |
2020-02-06 |
Clarification of urgent notice regarding accredited and non-accredited accommodation |
2020-02-04 |
Three from UFS selected for prestigious future-professors programme |
2020-02-04 |
Three from UFS selected for prestigious future-professors programme |
2020-02-04 |
2020 Kovsie ACT programme rounds off on an electrifying note! |
2020-02-04 |
2020 Kovsie ACT programme rounds off on an electrifying note! |
2020-02-04 |
Universities unite to discuss fragility and resilience in higher education |
2020-02-04 |
Universities unite to discuss fragility and resilience in higher education |
2020-02-03 |
Shimlas starts Varsity Cup with experienced team |
2020-02-03 |
Shimlas starts Varsity Cup with experienced team |
2020-02-03 |
Break the cycle of road accidents at traffic circles |
2020-02-03 |
Break the cycle of road accidents at traffic circles |
Free State University Choir wins competition in Prague
2009-12-15
This past weekend, the Free State University Choir, under the directorship of Mr Corné van Pletzen, won the Christmas Music Festival Competition in Prague in the Czech Republic. 25 choirs from amongst others Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and Russia also participated in the competition.
It is the first time in the 10 years that the Christmas Music Festival Competition is presented that an overall winner of the festival and the competition was announced.
The choir originally only participated in the festival part of the Christmas Music Festival. Later, at the end of the competition, they were asked by the judges to prepare a song for the prize-giving ceremony, not knowing that the judges were judging them for the competition.
Mr Van Pletzen said, “Finally, after all prizes had been handed out, a trumpet fanfare announced the Free State University Choir as the overall winner of the competition. Our choir was also requested to close the competition with a song; that we did, whereupon our students sang the National Anthem with pride and with tears in their eyes.
The choir’s presentation was unique as they included a great variety of songs in their programme, amongst others some of Mr Van Pletzen’s own compositions and a song from Africa, Wana Baraka.
According to Mr Van Pletzen, six of the choirs obtained more than 90% during the competition. The Free State University Choir was however overwhelmed with positive feedback on the standard of their presentation from the audience, other participating choirs as well as the judges.
Most of the 38 choir members have already been members of this choir for three years now and this is the third time that most of them are singing overseas.
They will bring home a beautiful glass trophy. |

Mr Corné van Pletzen. |