MASERU — Thirteen local choirs are set to lock horns in the Scrap-yard Festival of Voices competition at ’Mathabiseng Convention Centre on Sunday.
The competition is being bankrolled by a local company, Sunrise Scrap-yard, to the tune of M65 000.
It is being organised by Choral Music Federation of Lesotho (CMFL).
CMFL spokesperson, Sam Letima, said the 13 choirs would be vying for titles in the Standard and Large categories.
Letima said individual choristers will also have a chance to showcase their talent during Sunday’s competition.
“There will be a section for individual choristers competing in Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Duet, Trio, Quartet, Sextet, Double Quartet and Male Voice Choir,” he said.
He added that the federation’s main objective is to develop individual choristers and to uplift the standard of choral music in the country.
CMFL’s plan is to hold as many national competitions as possible to keep choirs ready for future competition and also help them prepare for the Africa Melody Festival at the end of the year.
The Sunrise Scrap-yard Festival of Voices also seeks to ensure the sustainability of local choirs.
The capacity of choristers in the standard section is between 35-50 members while for the Large Category it is between 50 and 70 members.
St Luke LCYM, Seliba Choral Artistes, Liraoheleng LEC, Loreto LCYM, Roma Melodies, NUL Choir, Samaria Choir and Mofumahali oa Tlholo will be vying for top honours in the Standard Category.
In the Large Category Maseru City Choral, Serumula Performing Arts Academy, Mohapeloa Singers and St Emile LCYM will be battling it out.
The winning choir in the Large Category will go home M5 000 richer while the first runners-up will pocket M4 000.
Third place winners will get M3 000.
The Standard Category winners will get M3 000 while the first and second runners-up will receive M2 500 and M2 000 respectively.
The winning choirs will also get trophies as part of their prizes.
The conductor of AMF champions, MCC, Sekake Maoto, told the Weekender they were going to win “as usual”.
Maoto said given their past winning performance, there is no doubt they will scoop another title.
“I will not be conducting the choir on Sunday but I am confident that victory is ours,” he added.
Serumula Performing Arts Academy’s conductor, Lehlomela Tente, on Tuesday said they were ready for victory although they expect tight competition from Mafeteng Choristers, Mohapeloa Singers and St Emile LCYM.
“We are working hard to make sure we win something on Sunday. We are training hard at the moment,” Tente said.
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