Durban’s internationally acclaimed Kearsney College Choir bagged an international accolade, the overall Grand Prix award, and were crowned champions of the Golden Voices of Barcelona earlier this month.
The 54-strong touring choir were named winners in the Youth Choirs category. Before their win in Barcelona, the choir had a successful concert tour in Germany. The boy’s choir director of music, Bernard Kruger, said they stole the show and left the audience craving for more in a sold-out 2 000-seater venue in Hamburg, Germany.
Professor Dr Horst Köhler, former president of Germany and former head of the International Monetary Fund, was the choir’s patron in Germany.
The boys also performed in Lüneburg at the Leuphana University’s 1 000-seater auditorium, as well as in Bremen, Hagen and Hannover, where they performed at some beautiful and famous concert venues.
The internationally acclaimed choir arrived back in Durban at the weekend.
Kruger attributed the choir’s victory to the boys’ determination, hard work and grit. He said they had prepared for six months for the two tours .
“This is a big thing for the boys, the spirit and the mood is high and the excitement is all over them. In Hamburg, Germany where we started performing we even got a standing ovation from the sold out 2 100 crowd, people were amazed by how talented and skilful the boys are.
“We have been preparing for months and it paid off. We have a very talented and disciplined group of boys, when they grace the stage they make sure they give their all, and I think that is our secret formula,” Kruger said.
The choir has now set its eyes on next year’s New York and London tours.
“We have already received an invitation to perform in New York and London. For now there is no exact date confirmed, but in January next year we will probably confirm everything,” Kruger said.
He added that the choir’s performance was so beautiful that even the German television station ZDF showed interest in filming a documentary on the boys. The Kearsney College Choir boasts a long list of accolades, including 15 gold and seven silver medals at the World Choir Games (the Olympics for Choirs).
The Mercury