By Sebastian Paulus
The Zolani Youth Choir from Ashton in the Western Cape has gained international fame by winning a prestigious music competition in Moscow, Russia.
The choir, which practices daily in a "shack," was awarded the Grand Prix on August 31, the highest prize in the A Cappella competition. The prize money amounts to R1.8 million.
This remarkable achievement is not only a victory for the choir but also for the entire community, which passionately supported them on their inspiring journey.
The choir was founded in 2012 by Odwa Mvunge, a former member of the Nelson Mandela University Choir and alumnus of the Department of Music and Performing Arts.
In a community where there are few opportunities for creative development, Mvunge saw the youth choir as a way to equip children and young people with musical skills.
The choir, consisting of 45 members aged 12 to 25, has no formal musical training but has distinguished itself through its passion and dedication to the art. The road to Moscow was not without challenges, however. The choir had planned to participate in the World Choir Games in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic dashed their dreams.
According to Mvunge, the disappointment was significant, but it didn’t break their spirit. "We continued to work hard and later participated in local music festivals, including a performance at the Woordfees with the award-winning singer Luna Paige," he said.
The choir’s big breakthrough came when the international group Women of the World (WOW) performed with them in Montagu in August 2023. WOW members were deeply impressed with the choir's talent and encouraged them to enter the A Cappella competition in Moscow. With the help of the community, the choir managed to raise enough funds and also acquire new uniforms and suitcases for their trip.
The competition in Moscow spanned ten days, with 150 musical groups from around the world participating. The Zolani Youth Choir performed three times a day, showcasing South African music composed by local composers such as Sivuyile Scott, Sabelo Mthembu, and Unathi Mzekeli. Despite their lack of formal training, they captivated the audience and clinched the top prize.
The success in Moscow has profoundly impacted the lives of the choir members as well as the entire Zolani community. For 34 of the choir members, it was their first time flying on a plane.
“This experience opened their eyes to the world beyond their small community and motivated them to pursue their dreams, despite the challenges they face,” said Mvunge.
He believes that this prize proves that "your circumstances should never determine your destiny" and that talent, when combined with hard work and perseverance, can open doors that were once unimaginable.
With their prize money, the choir plans to purchase a minibus for their performances, as they currently spend a lot on transportation. They also want to upgrade their rehearsal space, as the current venue has become too small for their practices. Furthermore, they intend to compensate the families of the participants as a form of motivation and appreciation.
The choir’s journey is far from over. They have already been invited to return to Moscow to conduct workshops on African music, providing yet another opportunity to showcase their talent to the world.