Highlights: A Concert Performed by Roedean Girls Choir and Boston Children's Chorus

On Saturday, April 14, South Africa Partners hosted an energy filled concert performed by the Boston Children’s Choir and the Roedean Girls Choir, visiting from Johannesburg. They honored Mandela's Centenary with a medley of ‘struggle songs’ that were performed at Mandela’s memorial on December 10, 2013.

In true South African style, these talented ladies and their new friends at the Boston Children's Choir energized the room with renditions of 'The Circle of Life', 'Thuma Mina' and others. Many proud parents, friends and families joined from South Africa via the Facebook Live feed.

The concert was preceeded by a workshop in which the two choirs engaged in dialogues and activities around the parallels between growing up in South Africa and the United States.

 

About BCC: 

The Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC) harnesses the power and joy of music to unite our city’s diverse communities and inspire social change. Our singers transcend social barriers in a celebration of shared humanity and love of music. Through intensive choral training and high-profile public performance experience (locally, throughout the U.S. and around the world), they learn discipline, develop leadership skills, and proudly represent the city of Boston as ambassadors of harmony.

About the Roedean Girls Choir:

The Roedean Girls Choir is from the Roedean School in South Africa. The school is an all girls school and was founded in 1903 as a sister school to the esteemed Roedean in Brighton, England. The choir has been around for 104 years and has performed for many local and foreign dignitaries as well as honored guests. These include Dr Chris Barnard, Mrs Adelaide Tambo, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah, and former late President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca. The choir has been at the forefront of the development of indigenous South African music, and, in the 1930’s, it hosted Mr Mark Radebe and his Bantu Octet from Forte Hare University in the old Transkei.

In its 104-year history the Roedean Choir has enjoyed numerous highlights. These include performances in plays, operettas, musicals, and even operas. The choir has also recorded numerous secular and sacred albums and hosted successful performances in the Johannesburg City Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral. The Roedean choir has proudly represented the school in local and national Eisteddfods. During both World Wars, Roedean School was a pillar of strength to the British and South African troops, and in addition to the school’s successful fund-raising war efforts, the choir often performed to the battle-weary soldiers and their highest-ranking officers. The Roedean choir has performed for many local and foreign dignitaries as well as honoured guests. These include General Jan Smuts, Dr Chris Barnard, Mrs Adelaide Tambo, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah, and former late President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca. This particular choir has always been at the forefront of the development of indigenous South African music, and, in the 1930’s, it hosted Mr Mark Radebe and his Bantu Octet from Forte Hare University in the old Transkei. This was a pioneering move at a time where cross cultural music education was severely frowned upon. This tradition and the values it embodies remains the cornerstone of the choir’s ethos. The choir also hosts the annual Johannesburg Girls’ Choir Festival and continues to promote the school values of truth, honour, courtesy and freedom through song. The choristers speak multiple languages, and, brilliantly led by Choir Master Ralf Schmitt, they offer a varied programme to a different audience. Their enthusiasm, emotion and energy of their performances are infectious and powerful delighting audiences wherever they perform. 
 

Ralf Schmitt (Choir Conductor - Roedean Girls Choir)

Ralf started his musical career as a chorister. He was in the Drakensberg Boys Choir, after which he followed his passion and continued to study music and choral conducting under Christian Ashley Botha at the University of Pretoria. This ebullient and talented choral conductor also composes and arranges for corporate and advertising purposes, he co-composed music for a 2010 FIFA World Cup advertisement for ESPN and ABC, and he worked closely with Shakira and Freshly Ground on the choral arrangements of Waka Waka for the FIFA 2010 Kick-Off Concert and the World Cup Final. He has also shared a stage with Andrea Bocelli at one of the concerts held in Johannesburg. His performances have never disappointed audiences and have always been followed by exuberant standing ovations.


Roedean School SA Choir Repertoire - USA 2018

Rain Maker
Composer Lebo Morake & Hans Zimmer

Origin - The Power of Love

Hellfire 
Composer - John Leyden
Origin – Mango Groove

Ghoema
Arr. Ralf Schmitt
Traditional Afrikaans

Say Africa
Composer Dave Goldblum
Origin Vusi Mahlasela

Circle of Life
Composer – Elton John  
The Lion King Musical

The Lioness Hunt
Composer – Lebo Morake
Origin – The Lion King Musical

Mangisondele
Arr. Ralf Schmitt and Michael Barrett
Traditional English and Zulu

Thuma Mina
Composer Hugh Masekela
Origin Hugh Masekela

Mandela Medley
Arr. Ralf Schmitt
Anti-Apartheid Struggle Song 

Down by the Riverside
Arr. Ralf Schmitt
American Spiritual

Sanibonani
Composer Ralf Schmitt
Roedean School SA

Gumboot Dance
Composer Zakhele Nkosi
Roedean School SA

Oxamu
Composer Busi Mhlongo
Origin Busi Mhlongo