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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.
Soetdoring, Armentum crowned 2016 serenade champions
2016-08-22
Armentum were crowned as this year’s winners for
the male residences. The ladies from Soetdoring
walked away with the winner’s title for the female
residences.
Photo: Johan Roux
“We made history this year! This is the first time that Armentum has ever won the Serenade competition”. These were the words from Danie Serfontein, RC Culture from Armentum, after being crowned as this year’s Serenade Singoff champions for the male residences at the University of the Free State.
Soetdoring knocked out the competition from the other female residences to take home the crown. “It’s been one year of planning and almost five months of practice. The competition was very tough, but the girls really wanted to win this year,” said Elmarie Spangenberg, Soetdoring RC Culture.
This year’s Kovsie Serenade Singoff competition, one of the highlights on the Bloemfontein calendar, was characterised by fierce competition, top-class entertainment, and loads of singing talent. Spectators could follow the action from two venues on the Bloemfontein Campus, with participants performing at the Odeion and the Kovsie Church. Following passionate performances during rotations on 10 and 11 August 2016, the winners were crowned on Saturday 13 August 2016.
This year, there were five male residences and seven female residences competing for the chance to be crowned the Serenade Singoff champions for 2016.
The top three spots for the female residences:
• Soetdoring (1st)
• Marjolein (2nd)
• Kagiso (3rd)
The top three spots for the men’s residences:
• Armentum (1st)
• Veritas (2nd)
• Legatum (3rd)