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03 January 2020
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Story Xolisa Mnukwa
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Photo Supplied
The UFS Bloemfontein Campus, South Campus, and Qwaqwa Campus choirs are student-centred choirs functioning under the Student Affairs’ Arts, Culture and Dialogue office.
It has been a noteworthy year for the University of the Free State (UFS) Choir, establishing itself on the student/university choir scene. The choir, based on the Bloemfontein Campus, represented the UFS at the bi-annual KUESTA choir festival earlier this year, showcasing its musical talent. The choir shared a stage with other university choirs from around the country.
The UFS (Bloemfontein Campus) Choir is a 42-member ensemble of students; the other two choirs, based on the South and Qwaqwa campuses, consist of 40 and 62 members respectively. The choirs are administered and managed by the Division of Student Affairs’ Arts, Culture and Dialogue Office. In addition to Kovsie culture, the choirs strive to have a varied repertoire of inclusive music, with the UFS BFN Campus choir performing a diversity of songs in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and Sesotho.
The new South Campus choir was established in 2018 and is led by choir director, Bonisile Gcisa, who specialises in choral music. This leg of the choir will therefore perform many of his works, but will also include some of the Bloemfontein choir’s set lists, since most of the choir members will be auditioning in 2021 for the Bfn choir when they change campuses.
The Qwaqwa Campus choir will lean more towards a choral genre under the direction of Sipho Khumalo.
The UFS Bloemfontein Campus choir was officially re-established under the leadership of choir conductor Leona Geldenhuys in March 2018, and has performed at several events, including the Rector’s Concert, the annual KUESTA choir convention, and the Bloemfontein Choir invitational. The group has also held a number of public performances on the Thakaneng Bridge at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.
“Part of the UFS Student Affairs’ objective is to create an inclusive and a socially just student lived experience, and that is the mandate the choirs will also adopt. We hope to create an experience that not only enhances our students’ singing abilities, but also contribute to a more inclusive university experience.” – Angelo Mockie – Director: UFS Student Affairs Arts, Culture and Dialogue office.
“Rest well, be safe, and return rejuvenated,” were his parting words to students for the festive season.
"Growing Vegetables"-video to help communities
2005-11-28
The Centre for Agricultural Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) handed a copy of a video on how to start a vegetable garden, Growing Vegetables, to Mr Casca Mokitlane, MEC for agriculture in the Free State. The video was made by the centre and First National Bank (FNB) and demonstrates step by step how to plan a vegetable garden, how to lay it out and how to sell the vegetables. Copies of the video will be distributed to poor schools and other people/organisations in the Free State who are involved in community development.
During the launch of the video and accompanying brochure at the centre of the Mangaung University of the Free State Community Partnership Project (MUCPP) special recognition was given to Mrs Dora du Plessis (from the UFS Centre for Agricultural Management and coordinator of the project) for the more than 2000 hours of overtime she put into the making of the video. From the left are Mr Sieg Maier (Provincial Manager of FNB), Mrs du Plessis and Dr Wimpie Nell (Director of the UFS Centre for Agricultural Management). Photo: Leonie Bolleurs