Catholic Church choirs to battle it out in annual competition

Association of Gaborone Diocese Catholic Church Choirs will host its annual choir festival competitions on August 19th at St Joseph's College hall in Kgale. The competition will begin with the celebration of mass by the Bishop of the Diocese of Gaborone, Valentine Tsamma Seane. The chairperson of the Association, Thabo Mohamadi, says they are expecting 29 choirs from around the Diocese of Gaborone to render hymns, African and western pieces from renowned composers including George Frederic Handel.

The festival hosts different categories including Tenor solo, Quartet, Male, Female, Youth, Section C, Standard and Large section. “This competition is always a memorable experience for choristers and audiences alike. Every year it raises the bar as Catholic enthusiastic choirs continue to gather to compete. It is an amazing and powerful event that intends not only to grow music in the church but also to build talent, confidence as well as help strengthen the Catholic Church’s music heritage,” he says.

Mohamadi further says that there is something for everyone to enjoy during the festival. “Choral music doesn’t get more magnificent than this,” he says. According to Mohamadi, the music festival is becoming a significant event in the country’s choral calendar and this year’s outstanding choirs and adjudicators will raise the competition’s profile to greater heights. “We are delighted to announce an exciting and entertaining programme. I believe there is something there for everyone to enjoy at the show. Tickets will be sold on the day at P60 for adults and P20 for children under age 12,” he says. The annual festival attracts many Catholic Church members as well as other Christians from other churches and choral music lovers from South Africa. Mohamadi says that they expect more people to attend this year’s event.