Stellenbosch gears itself for a festival of song this month

The e’Bosch Schools Choir Festival 2022, renowned for the largest school choir gathering in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek area will be celebrated as two events.

The festival will kick off with e’Bosch High Schools Choir Festival on Thursday September 22, at 7pm, at Stellenbosch High School, followed by the e’Bosch Primary Schools Choir Festival on Friday, September 23, at 6pm, at the Coetzenburg Sports Centre.

"This year we are delighted to stage some 260 learners from six secondary schools and 540 puppils from 18 primary schools respectively for these two events,“ says John Frans, e’Bosch Schools Choir project manager.

The 18 primary schools are grouped into three geographical clusters and have been meeting regularly to rehearse the songs for their respective groups.

The Stellenbosch University Brass Ensemble, under the direction of Pamela Kierman, will perform at the High School event and accompany the mass choir, while singing the e'Bosch theme song titled The United Light.

This composition which e’Bosch commissioned to local composer Xander Kritzinger, has served as the official e’Bosch theme song for the last few years, and is sung at every edition of the festival, says Mr Frans.

The six high schools with 260 pupils participating are Cloetesville High School, Lückhoff High School, Stellenzicht High School, Makupula High School, Paul Roos Gimnasium, and Stellenbosch High.

The 18 primary schools with 540 pupils participating are Cloetesville Primary, Eikestad Laerskool, St. Ida's Rk Primêre Skool, Bruckner De Villiers Primary School, Laerskool Rietenbosch, Pieter Langeveldt Primêr, Ikaya Primary School, Laerskool Af Louw, JJ Rhode Primêre Skool, Klapmuts Primary School, Dalubuhle Primary School, Joostenberg SSKV Primary School, St. Vincent Rc Primary School, Simondium Primary School, Devon Valley Primary School, Raithby Primary School, Weber Gedenk NGK Primary School, and Dorothea Primary School.

Entry to both the e’Bosch Primary and High Schools Choir Festival concerts is free. Contact John Frans at 084 824 5611 or email jfrans12@icloud.com for more information.