MASERU — Serumula Performing Arts Academy last weekend went home
M5 000 richer after they won the Sunrise Scrapyard Festival of Voices choral music competition held at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre last weekend.
St Emile LCYM and Mohapeloa Singers received M4 000 and M3 000 for coming second and third respectively.
Five choirs; Maseru City Choral, Serumula Performing Arts Academy, Mohapeloa Singers and St Emile LCYM took part in the large category.
Serumula’s conductor, Lehlomela Tente, told the Weekender their hard work had paid off.
“Only five choirs competed in the large category and I guess our professional preparations won us the first place,” he said.
Following this victory, Serumula said it was now looking forward to winning the annual African Melody Festival (AMF) pencilled for year-end.
Tente said they appreciated competition from local choirs as it kept them on their toes.
Serumula will engage in a number of activities as part of their preparations for the AMF.
Giants Maseru City Choral, who had promised to win the competition before last weekend’s contest, came last.
Three choirs, Samaria Choir, Loreto LCYM and Roma Melodies, pulled out of the standard category at the last minute.
NUL Choir scooped the first position and the M3 000 prize money in this category.
They beat St Luke LCYM into second place and Mofumahali Oa Tlholo LCYM into third place.
St Luke picked up M2 500 while Mofumahali Oa Tlholo LCYM walked away with M2 000.
Malefetsane Mathe, the NUL Choir’s conductor, told the Weekender they had been itching to perform following two weeks of intensive preparations.
“We only prepared for the competition for two weeks before the finals because of the disturbances at the university,” Mathe said.
He said they were happy that the university management had supported them in their preparations.
“We are happy we won because this justifies that there has to be an arts faculty at the university to cater for such activities.”
Mathe said the victory will help put NUL on the choral music map.
Sefabatho Mirriam Lefasa of Serumula came first in the Soprano solo category ahead of ‘Maseabata Setsabi of Mofumahali Oa Tlholo LCYM and Relebohile Lebina of St Luke who came second and third respectively.
In the alto solo section it was an in-house contest between Lofina Mokhethi and Mpho Motebang of Serumula Performing Arts.
However, it was Mokhethi who triumphed at the end of the day.
Relebohile Mahlomola of Serumula won first place in the tenor solo category after beating Rapsy Maubelle of Serumula and Teboho Neptune Nepzozo Nepo of Maseru City Chorale (MCC).
Kananelo Moea of Serumula scooped first prize in the baritone category while Kholela Motjotji of Maseru City Chorale grabbed second place.
Letsielo Sehlabo of Sekamaneng LEC Youth came third.
The trio category saw Serumula taking first position, followed by Mohapeloa and Phomolong LEC in second and third places respectively.
The mixed double quartet was scooped by Serumula while the male choir category went to St Emile LCYM.
