WeeklySA_AdminPRESTIGIOUS: Before representing Africa at the prestigious World Symposium on Choral Music in Macau, China, the University of Johannesburg Choir will give local audiences a final opportunity to experience its internationally acclaimed programme in a special farewell concert…
By WSAM Reporter
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Choir will bid farewell to South African audiences with a special concert next month before embarking on a historic journey to one of the world’s most prestigious choral gatherings.
The UJ Choir Farewell Concert will be held at the Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre on the University’s Auckland Park Kingsway Campus on August 15, offering audiences an exclusive preview of the repertoire the choir will perform at the World Symposium on Choral Music 2026 in Macau, China.
The invitation marks a landmark achievement for the choir. Chosen from hundreds of ensembles worldwide, the UJ Choir is one of only 13 choirs selected to perform at the symposium and the only representative from the African continent. In an additional honour, the choir has been invited to officially open the symposium, placing South African choral excellence centre stage before an international audience of conductors, composers, scholars, educators and leading choirs.
The symposium’s theme, “Reimagining the Future,” aligns with the University of Johannesburg’s commitment to innovation, African excellence and the transformative role of the arts in society.
Audiences attending the farewell performance will experience a programme deeply rooted in South African identity, featuring works composed and arranged predominantly by local musicians. The repertoire celebrates the country’s languages, stories, rhythms and cultural traditions while presenting a contemporary interpretation of African choral music.
Senior Choirmaster Sizwe Mondlane said the concert was both a celebration and a gesture of appreciation to those who have supported the choir’s journey.“This concert is for everyone that has supported, encouraged and carried us to this point. Before we take South African choral music to Macau, we want to share this programme with them. We want people to experience it and then send it off into the world with the utmost confidence of authentic representation,” he said.
UJ Arts & Culture has invited alumni, supporters, members of Johannesburg’s choral community and music lovers to be part of the occasion as the choir prepares to carry South Africa’s musical heritage onto the global stage. The concert takes place from 3pm to 4.30pm on August 15, with tickets available through Quicket at R100.
