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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.
Kovsie Basketball heading to USSA again
2014-05-19
The Kovsies women's basketball team is preparing for the 2014 USSA Basketball tournament at Tswane University of Technology from 30 June to 4 July 2014.
They qualified for the USSA tournament in April during the qualifying matches at CUT. Kovsies’ last basketball appearance at USSA was also their first time when they qualified for the tournament at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2012.
Led by team captain, Destiny Jameson (B.Sc Quantity Surveying student), and coaches, Francis Khoantle and Clemen Andre, the hoop-shooting Kovsie women’s prospects are to be among the top five at this year’s USSA.
“We will carry the Kovsie flag with honor and dignity,” says Head of Basketball at KovsieSport, Mthandazo Zwane.
On the local courts, the Kovsies Basketball League currently consists of eleven residential ladies’ teams and seven residential men’s teams. This residential league is also the biggest basketball league in the Mangaung Metropolitan area.
“Even though we are still developing the sport at the UFS, this just shows how much potential we as Kovsies have in basketball,” says Zwane.