The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan municipality was a buzz of excitement last weekend, with song and dance from the choral music spectacle participants. For three days, all 23 education districts came together for the Provincial Schools Eisteddfod Choral competition.
Welcoming the guests while also introducing the attendees on the first day was the Uitenhage District Director, Nozizwe Bashman, who the stepped-in since the Doctor Nyathi Ntsiko of the Port Elizabetheducation district was absent. Bashman welcomed the throngs that packed the Coega hall and officially opened the competition with this Shakespearean quote,“If music be the food of love, play on!”
Officiating the competition were adjudicators who had an important advice for both teachers and learners during the competitions. One of these adjudicators, Thanduxolo Mahlangeni who hails from Butterworth cautiously emphasised that research is a vital factor for schools when dealing with traditional pieces. “Traditional dance goes according to age and gender. Conductors must think of tactics now that the provincial winner will be competing at a national level. When they are at Randburg in July, there will be no time for dynamics” said Mahlangeni.
As this year’s competition had seasoned adjudicators, another was Nomonde Majiza who has been adjudicating for more than thirty two years. Majiza called on the government to assist the nation of music in schools, with training and financial assistance.
“The audience needs to be encouraged because they are educators of the learners participating in the Eisteddfod. At the end of the day it’s all about the development of the child” said Majiza.
Another outspoken adjudicator, Godfrey Masithela made a few comments as they were about to release the results of the competition. The Kimberly born Masithela said that there had been a few changes concerning the way adjudicating was being conducted.
He also requested the conductors to practise and teach the learners stage presents, stage management, manage themselves, do things to their full potential so as to boost their confidence on the stage. He (Masithela) said that they (adjudicators) looked at various things when they were judging the choirs and amongst other things they looked at the sound quality, the type of song etc.
Ndileka Mqobongo, a teacher and conductor at Bisho Primary school commended the organisers of the event. She applauded the presence of medical practitioners and paramedics that were on standby.According to her, some of the learners were sick even before they got on stage; and these practitioners advised them not to perform due to their situation.
Some of the learners were admitted at Nompumelelo hospital in Peddie such that one of them started attending school on Wednesday last week. “The event was of high standard, from the venue to the accommodation that was made available to us and the learners. There were even changes to the way the adjudication was handled this time around” said Mqobongo.
The provincial project co-ordinator Khuthala Ngoma thanked the participating schools for their outstanding behaviour.She also stated that the participating schools in the competition are Primary, Junior Secondary and High schools. Ngoma excitedly explained that, the schools participating at the provincial level of the competition are winners that triumphed from their districts.
She (Ngoma) also cited that the education and Sports Recreation Arts and Culture departments collaborated such that expert adjudicators were sourced jointly to help with the training of choirs and facilitators. Ngoma highlighted that winners of the provincial leg will represent this province in the national competition to be held in Johannesburg, Randburg at Rhema Church, from the 3rd to 6th of July this year.“We will definitely bring all the trophies home”, said Ngoma.
