The 2023 Chronicle

Head of Culture: Dr Carika de Swardt

our boys addressed the congregation, but also the beautiful performances of the Choir, who sang the song Who can say brother? by Neil van der Watt, as well as the angelic voices of the St Cyprian’s Girls’ High School Choir from Cape Town, who visited Michaelhouse while on tour in KZN. On 23 May the Choir competed in the first of two competitions for the year, the national ATKV Applous Choir Competition. The first round of this competition was held at Maritzburg College and the Michaelhouse Choir who competed in the Senior Boys Choir category were awarded a silver certificate. Two days later, on 25 May, the Choir performed in a choir concert at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof. The concert featured the Michaelhouse Choir, which sang a more traditional repertoire consisting of four pieces, and two choirs from St Mary’s: their junior “home” choir, and their touring choir, which will participate in the World Choir Games in Korea in July. On 23-24 July the Chapel Choir participated in a Symphony of Voices concert with St John’s DSG in Pietermaritzburg. A mass choir of 100 singers performed the South African folk song Jikele Maweni . The boys’ performances blew the audience away, especially young soloist Lunesize Mshengu. On 10-13 August the Choir travelled to George in the south- western Cape to compete in the Cantamus National Choral Festival and Competition. Twenty-eight boys from the Chapel Choir entered the competition as the Michaelhouse Chamber Choir. This choir came first in the Equal Voices Boys Choir category and second in the Chamber Choir category, receiving a gold certificate and an average of 82%. During the fourth quarter, the Choir performed at the prefect induction and Remembrance Day services in the Chapel. Furthermore, they performed alongside the Orchestra, Competition Marimba Band and Vocal Ensemble at speech day and at the carol service. The Michaelhouse Vocal Ensemble is a group of 12 elite singers who sing a variety of styles of music. This group is an offshoot of the Chapel Choir and provides boys with the opportunity to sing a more difficult repertoire than the one that is possible in a larger group. The ensemble performed at the annual Two Schools in Concert: A celebration of brotherhood with Hilton College, singing a more contemporary programme such as the Boy Band Medley , which left the audience smiling. After losing two members who relocated to the USA, the group performed twice more during the fourth quarter: at the memorial service, where they performed a moving rendition of Be still my soul and an arrangement penned by Dr de Swardt during the Covid-19 pandemic; and during the annual carol service. Mr Khumalo has been a huge help with both the Choir and vocal ensemble and has ensured that our indigenous music programme has been authentic. This is certainly important, and we must ensure that it continues despite both Mr Dippenaar and Mr Khumalo leaving Michaelhouse at the end of 2023. This year, three B Block choristers, Brett Hill, Elijah Kangueehi and Kungalo Somhlahlo, received colours for music.

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he cultural programmes at Michaelhouse provide boys with many opportunities to develop their interests in a variety of pursuits. The goals are to develop the artistic and aesthetic skills of boys so that passions can grow into areas of personal achievement. Through cultural education, the boys of Michaelhouse encounter aspects of their own and other cultures, which engenders transformation and multicultural understanding in a diverse society. INTRODUCTION At the start of 2023 the cultural programmes were distinguished from clubs and societies. The various activities were organised into seven development programmes with clear performance goals, measurable outcomes and guidelines for awards. The cultural programmes fall under the guidance of MICs and the student leaders of each of these programmes are, as with sport, referred to as captains. For the purposes of competitive development, there is a focused approach towards participating in competitions – interhouse, league, provincial, national and international – as well as interschools collaborations such as art exhibitions, musicals and festivals. In each programme there are both development and first teams, which cater for boys of different levels of proficiency. Membership in these teams is based on selection, and there are clear guidelines. The cultural portfolio at Michaelhouse contains the following programmes: • Choral Programme (Chapel choir and vocal ensemble) • Orchestral Programme (orchestra, junior jazz band and senior jazz band) • Marimba Programme (competition marimba band, senior marimba band and junior marimba band) • Debating and Public Speaking Programme (junior and senior debating teams) • Chess (junior and senior chess teams) • Art Development Programme • Performance Arts and Theatre Technology Programme Coaches: Mr Jaco Dippenaar, Mr Thembinkosi Khumalo (Chapel Choir), Dr Carika de Swardt (Vocal Ensemble) Captains: Erich van Zyl, Samir Dookie n the first quarter of 2023 the Choir spent three days in rehearsals during their annual choir camp and this enabled them to learn a large chunk of repertoire. To this effect, Mr Dippenaar organised social events such as the Valentine’s Dinner with The Wykeham Collegiate. The choir performed at the annual confirmation service, the Board chapel service and at the full school Eucharist on the last Sunday of the quarter. The Choir performed at the annual Grandparents’ Day on 23 April. On 27 April Michaelhouse celebrated Freedom Day in a poignant chapel service in the amphitheatre. What made this event significant, was not only the confident manner in which I CHORAL PROGRAMME Master in Charge: Mr Jaco Dippenaar

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