DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR TO HOST MUSIC IN THE CITY 2024 EXTRAVAGANZA – BOOK NOW!

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The Drakensberg Boys Choir School (DBCS) is pleased to announce that the epic four-day concert Drakensberg Boys Choir Music in the City 2024 extravaganza is back. The Music in the City 2024 on the Nelson Mandela Stage at the Joburg Theatre, from 30 May to 2 June 2024, promises to be a world-class experience featuring world-class music from the internationally acclaimed Drakensberg Boys Choir, also known as Drakies. Audiences can again look forward to a rich musical line-up showcasing a tapestry of musical genres, ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary and well-known Afro-Pop tunes.

"Last year, The Mandela at Joburg Theatre proved to be ideally suited to the varied choir repertoire, and the audience enjoyed the classics to modern pop, with unique Drakie arrangements, foot-stomping, drum beating, dancing, and pulse of Africa second half of the show," says DBCS Executive Head, Dave Cato. "This year's Music in the City 2024 promises to be even bigger and better. We enjoy the positive working relationship with the theatre. We foresee the programme will again have the audiences on their feet, celebrating the prowess and hard work of the talented boys aged between 10 and 15."

The 2024 line-up and ticket sales

"2023 marked our triumphant return to The Mandela stage after COVID-19 and its restrictions. We are set to exceed expectations again this year with a line-up showcasing a rich tapestry of musical styles, ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary and Afro-Pop tunes," says Vaughan Van Zyl, Artistic Director, Drakensberg Boys Choir School.

Tickets will be on sale via web tickets on https://share.stone.consulting/Drakies_MiC according to the line-up below:

Drakensberg Boys Choir splash concerts with participating Gauteng schools:

Drakensberg Boys Choir gala concerts featuring a full programme of choral and Afro-Pop works:

At the Thursday splash concert, audiences can anticipate an electrifying performance as the boys take the stage with some of Gauteng's finest school choirs. Among these talented schools are Laerskool Constantiapark, Laerskool Elarduspark Senior Choir, Laerskool Helderkruin Kinderkoor, Reddam House Waterfall Junior Choir and the Ridge School Senior Choir.

The Friday splash concert will follow the same schedule, featuring a different, diverse line-up of talented school choirs. Among these schools are Grayston Preparatory Senior Primary Choir, Laerskool Anton van Wouw, Laerskool Wierdepark 'Alawierdas', Reddam House Waterfall Senior Choir and St Peter's Prep School Chamber Choir. All tickets for the choir celebration splash concerts are R200 and are available on web tickets.

Whether performing in front of international royalty, in a stadium packed to capacity or in the school's Ken Mackenzie Auditorium in our Valley of Music, the Drakies always inspire and delight. The Drakensberg Boys Choir Music in the City 2024 extravaganza promises to be a world-class experience, featuring beautiful and entertaining music showcasing the internationally acclaimed choir prowess and diversity of repertoire.

Music is Our Ministry

Under the banner Music is Our Ministry, the Drakensberg Boys Choir School boasts an internationally acclaimed program that combines the art of choral singing and performance with rigorous academic training. The boys who leave DBCS do so as well-adjusted young men who are adequately equipped to face the challenges of their late high school years and beyond. According to Cato, "Nothing unites a nation like music. The Drakensberg Boys' Choir, a truly South African culture asset also fondly known as Drakies, is blessed and fortunate to bring choral and music lovers across the globe the most beautiful and entertaining music, either through live performances, streaming or recordings of their outstanding work," says Cato.

Support for the Drakensberg Boys Choir School (DBCS) bursary fund

Jointly hosted by the Drakensberg Boys Choir School Parent Association, the school and the Joburg Theatre as a fundraiser, the celebratory Drakensberg Boys Choir Music in the City 2024 aims to strengthen the DBCS's bursary fund for talented boys to join the choir.

"Attending this world-class choir school is often a lifelong dream fulfilled for many of our many talented boys. The blessing of talent does not only come to boys from families who can self-fund their children's unique schooling in the Drakensberg. It is sad if world-class talent cannot be harnessed due to financial constraints. The bursary fund plays a critical role in giving deserving boys the opportunity to make their bow on the world choir stage, an honour that they would not have had without generous donations into our bursary fund," explains Amanda Cunningham, Chairperson of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School Parent Association.

Many individuals and families have supported the school, enabling it to grow into a world-class institution. Today, the Drakensberg Boys Choir School is acknowledged and respected nationally and internationally for its exceptional work ethic, music, musicians and learners. The DBCS mission is to prepare boys for life and leadership through excellence in music, academics, sport, and social enrichment in a Christian environment. The school firmly believes that every boy's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is paramount and is committed to upholding that as a priority.

Drakies old boys continue to excel

"We are proud of the young men the school produces, and the benefits of choral music as part of the educational curriculum are well known. As evidence of this, our boys regularly win scholarships and are sought after by schools of a high calibre when they leave the school after grade nine. We are a middle school, ending in grade nine," states Cato. 

Drakies alumni have excelled not only in the music industry but also in the sports field and business. The calibre of our old boys speaks for themselves. To name but a few that made a name for themselves in the music and arts field alone: Deon van der Walt (tenor), Mark Behr (author), Deon Lotz (actor), Terence Bridgett (actor), Jacques Imbrailo (baritone), Dawid Kimberg (tenor), Clint Van Der Linde (countertenor), Willem Vogel (impresario), Vaughan van Zyl (conductor), Nicholas Nicolaidis (tenor), Zwai Bala (baritone), Hilton Marlton (tenor), Paul du Toit (author), Phelo Bala (baritone), Loyiso Bala (tenor), Dawid Boverhoff (musician), Jean-Philip Grobler (vocalist), Ferdinand Liebenberg (bass), Michael Barrett (conductor and lecturer), Gareth Dry (conductor), Ralf Schmidt (conductor), Xander Kritzinger (tenor), Walter Butt (conductor), Hugo Roodt (percussionist), Marshell Lombard (conductor) and Jurgen Hellberg (director/producer).

FIN
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Willem S Eksteen

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

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