University of Pretoria Camerata

The University Of Pretoria Camerata is one of five choirs that the University of Pretoria, South Africa has on its campus. The other four are The University Of Pretoria Chorale, The University Of Pretoria Youth Choir, The University Of Pretoria Children's Choir and the The University Of Pretoria Concert Choir.

Biography

The Camerata was officially established on 20th March 1968. It's mission is to make a contribution towards the cultural development of the student corps and the cultural enrichment of the community by means of choral singing. The choir also endeavours to promote a worthy image of the University Of Pretoria through striving towards the highest possible artistic standards together with a code of conduct that meets the highest requirements of companionship.

The choir operates under the auspices of the Department of Music of the University Of Pretoria. The conductors have always aimed for high artistic values. The choir has previously been conducted by:
* Adolf Theron
* Willem van Tonder
* Prof. Petru Grabe
* Prof. Johann van der Sandt January 1999 - June 2008

The choir currently has 65 members although the numbers vary between years.

Highlights and achievements

* 1989 and 1993 - Roodepoort International Eisteddfod of South Africa, First Prize for Mixed Choirs
* 1994 - Tallinn Choir Festival (Estonia), First Prize for Mixed Choirs
* 1996 - Fourth International Symposium on Choral Music, Sydney (Australia), Guest Choir
* 1999 - International Choral Competition for Advent and Christmas Music, Prague (Czech Republic), Category Winners ans Overall winner of the competition
* 2001 - SNK International Choral Competition Arnhem (Netherlands), Second Prize for Mixed Choirs
* 2001 - Singkreis Porcia International Choral Competition, Spittal an der Drau (Austria), Winner
* 2002 - 6th World Choral Symposium, Minneapolis, Minnesota (United States), Guest Choir
* 2004 - Concert Tour to the United States
* 2006 - Concert Tour to Kenya and Tanzania
* 2007 - Competition Tour to Italy and concert tour to Austria , first prize in the Jazz and Pop category at an 46th CA Seghizzi International Choral Competition, Gorizia.

Repertoire

The choirs larger scope works include: "Missa Criolla" (Ramirez), "Messiah" (Handel), "Weihnachtsoratorium" (Bach), "Missa aulica" (Mozart), "Mass in E Minor" (Bruckner), "Requiem" (Fauré), "Requiem" (Mozart), "Ein deutsches Requiem" (Brahms), "Elijah" (Mendelssohn), "Magnificat" (Bach), "A Carol Cantata" (Hendrik Hofmeyr), "Carmina Burana" (Orff)

The Repertoire for 2007 includes:
* "Ag, As Ek Maar Net Vlerke Soos 'n Duif Kon Gehad Het" ~ Niel van der Watt (*1962-)
* "Ave, Maris Stella" ~ Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
* "Bohemian Rhapsody" ~ Queen
* "Come Again, Sweet Days" ~ John Dowland (1697)
* "Hear My Prayer, O Lord" ~ Henry Purcell (1659-1695)/Sven-David Sandström (*1928-)
* "De Profundis" ~ Giuseppe Cappotto
* "Geburten" ~ Andrea Venturini
* "Cloudburst" ~ Eric Whitacre (*1970-) - Text by Octavio Paz
* "Her Sacred Spirit Soars" ~ Eric Whitacre (*1970-)
* "Hymne (Dein Sind In Die Himmel)" ~ Josef Rheinberger (1839 - 1901)
* "Java Jive" ~ Ben Oakland arranged by Kirby Shaw
* "Jezus Es Kufarok" ~ Zoltán Kodály
* "Jesus Se Oprag En Seen" ~ Chris Lamprecht
* "Kyrie from Mass In E-Flat Major" ~ Josef Rheiberger (1839 - 1901)
* "Mita Kaikatat Kivonen" ~ Mia Makaroff (*1971-)
* "Psalm 23" ~ Chris Lamprecht
* "Roads" ~ Steve Dobrogosz
* "Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied" ~ Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
* "Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied" ~ Hugo Distler
* "Regn Og Rusk Og Rosenbusk" ~ Bo Holten
* "Axuri Beltza" ~ Arranged: Javier Busto
* "Biegga Luohte" ~ Jan Sandström
* "Die Dans van die Reën" ~ Hendrik Hofmeyr
* "Drive My Car" ~ The Beatles
* "Hymne à la Vierge" ~ Pierre Villette
* "Përkonami Melni Zirgi" ~ V. Šmidbergs
* "Psalm 139" ~ Sven-David Sandström
* "Repleti Sunt Omnes" ~ Martin Watt
* "There Will be Rest" ~ Frank Ticheli
* "Ubi Caritas et Amor" ~ Morten Lauridsen
* "Zure Boza" Xabier Sarasola
* EXTENDED WORK: "Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert" ~ Duke Ellington

Membership

Membership of the choir is open to all registered students of the University of Pretoria younger than 30 years. Members have to successfully pass and audition. The first round of auditions is held in September of every year and consists of theory test, a vocal placement test and an individual sung audition in front of an audience. The second round of auditions takes place in February of the next year where successful candidates from the first round are expected to sing some of the years repertoire in groups of four (one person per voice group).

Cultural development

The choir regards it as its duty to play a formative role in the cultural-spiritual endowment of its members within the milieu of discipline and commitment. Amidst the great need for expertise in choral conducting, the Tuks Camerata endeavours to be a training ground for future choir conductors.

The conductor

With Johann van der Sandt's departure in June 2008 the Camerata currently do not have a permanent conductor. Guest conductors will work with the choir for the remainder of 2008 until an official replacement has been appointed in early 2009.

Voice trainer

The Camerata has a full time voice trainer who works individually and with small groups of the choir to ensure correct sound production and singing technique.

Upcoming performances

The Camerata will be touring the Western Cape of South Africa during June and July 2008.

Other performance dates:
*09 August: Tuks Camerata and Götzis Männerkor from Austria, University of Pretoria Musaion, 19:00
*23 August: African Renaissance with Tuks Camerata
*28 August: Lunch Hour Concert with Tuks Camerata and Tuks Chorale
*6 September: Soirree
*16 October: Tuks Camerata and Madrigalchor Kiel from Germany. University of Pretoria Musaion, 19:00
*18 October: Tuks Camerata Gala Concert. Choral music at its best. Book early! University of Pretoria Musaion, 19:00

Recordings

The choir has released a number of CDs in conjunction with the Singkronies Chamber Choir, The University Of Pretoria Chorale and Cant'Afrika.

The most recent CDs are:
* "An international Collection of Choral Music" - The University Of Pretoria Camerata (2006)
* "Khutso - Chant for Peace" - Singkronies Chamber Choir, The University Of Pretoria Chorale and Cant'Afrika (2006)

External links

* [http://www.tukscamerata.up.ac.za/index.html The University Of Pretoria Camerata]
* [http://www.seghizzi.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=260&lang=en 46th International Competition of Choral Music]
* [http://www.singkronies.co.za/ Singkronies Chamber Choir]
* [http://www.crcn.co.za/eastrandyouthchoir/ The East Rand Youth Choir]