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12/08/2024

A dynamic mix of yodelling, crunchy pop, Afrobeat, folk songs and the classics will fill the air when a visiting Austrian boys vocal ensemble performs with the Nelson Mandela University Choir on Thursday, 15 August at 6pm in Gqeberha. 

 

The acclaimed University Choir, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will host the Cantophonics of the Borromäum.

The concert will be held at the Bird Street Campus of the University, in Bird Street, Central.

Nelson Mandela University Choir Director Robert Gillmer said he was thrilled to welcome the Cantophonics.

“When conductor Moritz Guttmann reached out about their South African tour, I immediately recognised this as a fantastic opportunity for our choir,” said Gillmer.

“Collaborating with such a distinguished ensemble, known for their vibrant mix of styles and impressive accolades, will not only enrich our musical experience but also offer a unique cross-cultural exchange.

“It’s exciting to see our choir members engage with a different genre and style, and I'm confident that this performance will be a memorable highlight of our 30th anniversary celebrations."

Based in Salzburg, the Cantophonics are a group of 12 boys aged 17 to 18 who have been singing together since their primary school days. 

The teenagers are said to impress with their variety of literature, balanced choral sound and youthful charm.

Guttman and the Cantophonics are visiting Nelson Mandela Bay as part of a national tour of South Africa, with stops in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.

They came together back in 2017 when they were singers in the school choir at the Borromäum, a private Catholic school in Salzburg. In the second grade they formed a vocal ensemble and have been rehearsing once a week since then.   

In addition to performing at school, they were also part of a research project at the Mozarteum University that looked at boys and young men singing.

The group recently won the Male Vocal Ensemble category at the Austrian National Youth Singing Competition and were awarded a gold diploma in sight-singing.

Guttmann is a music teacher at the Borromäum and has already led two student ensembles, Voices Unlimited and Hohes C, to national and international success.

He and his students have revived the tradition of Advent knocking and, with a wide-ranging repertoire of different styles, has created the basis for the cultivation of local folk songs.

Guttmann is also a lecturer at the Mozarteum and youth consultant in the Salzburg Choral Association.

While on tour in South Africa, the Cantophonics also will perform with the Drakensberg Boys Choir in Winton.   

Last year’s concert tours took them to Italy and Finland.

Entrance to the concert is free, but a donation box will be available.

Further information from: Michelle du Preez, Michelle.DuPreez@mandela.ac.za

Contact information
Primarashni Gower
Director: Communication & Marketing
Tel: 0415043057
Primarashni.Gower@mandela.ac.za