08 Sep 2016

One of the biggest choral music festivals in Southern Africa, the Old Mutual National Choir festival will be staged, for the first time, in Botswana tomorrow. 

The renowned Old Mutual National Choir festival, which has been held in South Africa over the past years, will be held at Boipuso Hall. 

The festival is an international event aimed at promoting choral music in Southern Africa.

It comprises 10 regions with nine from South Africa and Botswana being in the North West region and Swaziland as an independent region. 

Meanwhile, the festival coming to Botswana will be a unique occasion, as it coincides with the country’s golden jubilee celebrations. 

Competing local choirs at this year’s Old Mutual National Choir festival include KTM choir, Gaborone Youth Singers, Andante Chorus, Maikano Serenaders, BTU Choristers and Gaborone Philharmonic Voices. 

There will also be Platinum Voices, Matlosane Melodies, Lesetlheng URC Choir, Mompati Arts Choirs and North West University Choir, both from South Africa. 

Nonetheless, Botswana’s youthful choir, Maikano Serenaders has been extensively preparing for the upcoming festival, which they also participated in last year. 

Maikano Serenaders’ public relations officer, Gosego Lesole said in an interview that preparations for the big show were at an advanced stage and rehearsals were held every Thursday. 

“We are very much prepared. We are on fire. Last year we got position two with a 79 per cent average. But this time we are aiming for position one,” Lesole said. ENDS