Origin Strath University, Nairobi, Kenya | ||
The Kilele Choir, now known as Strathmore Chorale, is part of Strathmore University's Music Club. Most of the choristers are students currently at the university while the others are alumni. The choir's repertoire of sacred, secular and folk music is mainly a cappella. The choir is camerata-sized: 40 to 60 choristers. The club is under the office of the Dean of Students of Strathmore University, headed by Mr. Paul Ochieng.
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History
Established on 11 January 1997, the Music Club was composed of both university staff and students. The Music Club was later to be split in two, forming Kilele Choir and Safari Band.
Highlights and achievements
In 1999, the university choir made its first international tour in Mwanza, Tanzania where it performed and also participated in the annual regional choir. At this time the choir was under the leadership and guidance of Mr. Silverse Anami, who was the choir director. Currently Mr. Anami is the director of culture and heritage in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Kenya.
In 2002, still under Mr. Anami, the choir made its second international tour as a guest choir at the canonization of St Josemaria Escriva in Rome, Italy. They performed in different venues, with the best performance being at the Santa Cecilia auditorium. The climax of the tour was a Harambee concert held in the Vatican.
The choir has had a good relationship with the University of Pretoria's Tuks Camerata, who visited Kilele in June 2006. In April 2008 it was Kilele's turn to visit South Africa. The choir did a concert tour of South Africa where they performed at the University of Johannesburg and also at the centenary celebrations of the University of Pretoria.
In April 2009, the choir visited South Africa for the second time, this time including the Cape region and Gauteng province. They shared the stage with their hosts, Tuks Camerata and Up Chorale as they sang the popular Kenyan melody Jambo Bwana, with the soloist being the choir's conductor, Mr. Albert Apela. The choir launched their premier album, e-polo, at the University of Pretoria.
The choir made its debut at the Kenya National Music Festival in 2005. Key among its achievements are:
Membership
New members are auditioned at the beginning of a new academic year to replace the choristers who left the previous academic year. Those who audition are allowed to sing a song of their choice. Voice tests are also undertaken.
Conductors
The first conductor of the choir was Mr. Adam Andera in mid-2006. Mr. Albert Apela later succeeded him. With Mr. Apela, Kilele has developed a repertoire of songs from Africa and the West. The choir also has an assistant conductor choir who deputizes the conductor while he/she is away and he/she is usually a chorister.
Recording
The choir has recorded one album already, e-polo, whose copies are being sold at the university and selected outlets in Nairobi.