Drakensberg Boys Choir set to end 2025 on a high note with the Drakies Christmas in the Berg music festival

DRAKENSBERG, SOUTH AFRICA – 1 December 2025 – Following a triumphant and warmly received 2025 Noël Tour across KwaZulu-Natal, the Drakensberg Boys Choir School is delighted to announce that preparations are in full swing for the annual Drakies Christmas in the Berg Music Festival, taking place from 5 to 7 December 2025 on the school's iconic mountain campus.

This beloved annual year-end Drakies Christmas in the Berg Music Festival, or CiB as it is often referred to, brings together music, craft, food, family, and festive spirit in a uniquely Drakensberg celebration that closes the DBCS performance calendar on a resounding high. Drakies Christmas in the Berg features the 2025 Drakies choral material, polished to performance excellence throughout the year, plus much more.

The Drakies Noël Tour 2025, which concluded with a crescendo in Umhlanga last night, celebrated the choir's Christmas repertoire, with audiences praising the boys' talent, discipline, precision, and emotional connection on stage. "We are incredibly proud of the boys," says Jacques Linde, Head of Choral Activities. "They mastered 24 new songs in just six weeks, showing remarkable focus and musical maturity. Step by step, they are reaching new heights," he adds.

Drakies Christmas in the Berg - A festival of harmony, community and celebration

The three-day festival offers a vibrant programme of concerts, artisanal stalls, food vendors, and a joyful holiday atmosphere — all set against the majestic Drakensberg mountains.

The festival opens with a relaxed afternoon of pure Drakie energy — heartfelt solos, ensemble pieces, and pop favourites including Put Your Head on My Shoulder and Die With a Smile — a warm, family-friendly start to the weekend of performances entirely curated by the talented Drakie boys on their own.

This signature concert offers the best repertoire of the entire year, curated from Afropop, Traditional African items, contemporary choral works, classical gems and more. "This concert is our musical yearbook," explains Linde. "It's the finest of 2025 across the spectrum."

Renowned singer Jannie du Toit takes to the stage with his multilingual Jacques Brel tribute, Bonjour Monsieur Brel — performing in French, English, Dutch and Afrikaans, accompanied by an exceptional instrumental ensemble of the cello, piano, and guitar/accordion. Jannie will perform a repertoire woven with both Brel's popular classics and lesser-known gems, offering lyrical drama, emotional depth and compelling storytelling. The Drakensberg Boys Choir will not participate in this concert.

Saturday evening, the Drakensberg Boys Choir is joined by Jannie du Toit on stage for the Drakies Noël Concert, a luminous celebration of carols, choral favourites and seasonal joy. Expect a mix of beloved carols, choral favourites, and a warm, uplifting atmosphere perfect for welcoming in the spirit of Noël. Patrons can look forward to a magical night of music, friendship and tradition.

The festival concludes with a dignified and spirited finale, honouring the Grade 9 leavers and celebrating the heart of Christmas through radiant choral works and festive highlights. A stately and inspiring Sunday morning finale showcasing the full breadth of the choir's talent, from luminous choral works to joyous seasonal highlights.

Unlike a single set programme, Drakies Christmas in the Berg features a curated selection of the choir's 2025 repertoire, performed throughout the year and perfected during the Noël Tour. ​ Audiences can look forward to sacred and traditional works — Once in Royal David's City, Stella Natalis, The Earth Adorned, The First Noël, O Holy Night — alongside festive favourites such as Ding Dong Merrily on High, An African Christmas, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, Sonneblom uit Bethlehem, and Silent Night. This repertoire reflects the depth, versatility, and signature African flair that define the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

Celebrating excellence, impact and the Drakies' legacy

The festival crowns a milestone year for DBCS — one marked by sold-out performances, artistic growth, national appearances, and the continued strengthening of its choral legacy. "The Drakensberg Boys Choir represents the very best of South African youth," says Hendrik Bekker, Executive Head of Drakensberg Boys Choir School. "Our boys perform at a world-class level while remaining grounded, disciplined, and academically strong. They leave as well-rounded young men who are ambassadors of hope," says Bekker. Following the Sunday Noël Gala concert, the long-standing traditional bell-ringing ceremony will take place for the boys who are leaving Drakensberg Boys Choir School to complete their schooling at high schools elsewhere.

At Drakensberg Boys Choir School, Music is our Ministry. Through the school's bursary fund, audiences help ensure that talented boys, regardless of background, can join the Drakensberg Boys Choir family. "When patrons attend our concerts, they are investing in the next generation of South African leaders," Bekker concludes.

Drakies Christmas in the Berg tickets are available now via www.dbchoir.com.

FIN
​(814 words)

Willem S Eksteen

DBCS Board Director, Stone on behalf of Drakensberg Boys Choir School

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E. media@dbchoir.teamP. +27 11 447 0168W. www.dbchoir.com