SA’s foremost choirs rake in the gold in Cincinnati in the US in a feast of choral splendour.

Three South African choirs took part in the second week of the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were Tygerberg Children’s Choir and Stellenberg Girl’s Choir from Cape Town and Kearsney College Choir from KZN.

Stellenberg Girls Choir, under the baton of Andre van der Merwe, were crowned double world champions, winning gold medals in the Musica Contemporanea and Music of the Religions Divisions. In the latter category they triumphed over Tygerberg Children’s Choir, who has to be satisfied with a second place.

It is absolutely heartwarming to see two excellent South African choirs obtaining first and second places in an international competition of such stature. Choir leader Andre van der Merwe is taking home a whopping four first places in this year’s World Choir Games, after Stellenbosch University Choir’s mammoth win last week.

Tygerberg Children’s Choir, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year under the leadership of Hennie and Theresa Loock, also obtained second place and a gold medal in the Children’s Choirs division, losing by a very narrow margin of only 0,14% to the excellent Vocalista Angels from Indonesia.

In the Spirituals division, Tygerberg Children’s Choir ended in 5th place, against much older choirs. Stellenberg Girls Choir also obtained a fifth place in the Gospel division.

Kearsney College Choir under the baton of Bernhard Kruger won the Scenic Folklore category. Final results at this year’s World Choir Games: 4 South African choirs, 11 gold medals and one silver, 5 first places, 3 second places and two fifth places. Indeed a mean feat for our excellent musical export products.