Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

University of Pretoria Camerata

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Active from
  
1968

Genre
  
Easy listening

University of Pretoria Camerata httpsiytimgcomviA84t5z41ZtAhqdefaultjpg

Albums
  
Voices of Africa, Phoenix, Love and War, Horizons, An International Collection of Choral Music

Record labels
  
University of Pretoria, Prospect, Guild GmbH, University of Pretoria Camerata

Nominations
  
South African Music Award for Best Classical and Instrumental Album

Similar
  
Cape Town Youth Choir, Akustika Chamber Singers, Joshua na die Reën, World Youth Choir, St Olaf Choir

World choir games 2014 riga vermanes darza university of pretoria camerata 12 07 2014 no 14 00


The University of Pretoria - Tuks Camerata is one of five choirs that the University of Pretoria, South Africa has on its campus. The other four are The UP OVUWA, The University of Pretoria Youth Choir, The University of Pretoria Jacaranda Children's Choir and the University of Pretoria Concert Choir. It is the official Choir of the University of Pretoria

Contents

Biography

The Camerata was officially established on 20 March 1968. Its mission is to make a contribution towards the cultural development of the student corps and the cultural enrichment of the community through 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
  • Petru Grabe
  • Prof. Johann van der Sandt January 1999 - June 2008
  • Richter Grimbeek From August 2008 (ad interim)
  • Christo Burger From January 2009
  • Michael Joseph Barrett From April 2013
  • Camerata is generally a small choir with between 40 and 60 voices. The exact number differs between choir 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 and 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: Misa 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)

    2010

    The repertoire of 2010 includes:

  • Ave Maris Stella ~ Javier Busto
  • Bin-Nam-Ma (Lluvia Larga - Edless Rain) ~ Alberto Grau
  • Dies Irae
  • Ecco ~ Pieter Bezuidenhout
  • The Elegy of Anne Boleyn ~ Jeffrey Biegel
  • Ich bin ein rechter Weinstock ~ Heinrich Schutz
  • Neišeik, Saulala ~ Vytautas Miškinis
  • Salve Regina ~ David N. Childs
  • Verleih Uns Frieden ~ Felix Mendelssohn
  • Voices of Autumn ~ Jackson Hill
  • 2009

    The repertoire for 2009 consists of:

  • In Remembrance (From Requiem) ~ Eleanor Joanne Daley
  • Agnus Dei ~ Frank Martin
  • Audi, et ego loquar ~ Niel van der Watt
  • Daemon Irrepit Callidus ~ György Orbán
  • Sing Joyfully ~ William Byrd
  • Gloria ~ Ralph Hoffman
  • A Jubilant Song ~ René Clausen
  • Cover me with the Night ~ Peter Katzow
  • Gamelan ~ R. Murray Schafer
  • He Never Failed Me Yet ~ Traditional African-American Spiritual
  • Voices of Autumn ~ Jackson Hill
  • 2007

    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 Rheinberger (1839–1901)
  • Mitä 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
  • 2013

    The repertoire for 2013 includes:

  • Indodana Rolf Schmitt
  • Gloria Ralph Hoffman
  • In der passionzeit Felix Mendelssohn
  • Sure on the shining night Morten Lauridsen
  • I'm gonna sing til the spirit moves in my heart Moses Hogan
  • O Crux ave Rihards Dubra
  • Open Thou Mine Eyes John Rutter
  • The Majesty and Glory of Your Name Thomas Fettke
  • Ar laiku puķes vīst Peteris Vasks
  • Things that never die Elanor Daley
  • Traditional African Music
  • Membership

    Membership of the choir is open to all registered students of the University of Pretoria younger than 30 years. Candidates need to successfully pass and audition to be accepted into the choir. The choir auditions for the year 2009 differed from the traditional Camerata auditions mainly because of the new conductor (Christo Burger). Candidates simply had to sing a traditional folklore song and after that do vocal tests. The auditions were held from 28 January to 5 March 2009. After that the 2009 choir was announced, and rehearsals began.

    From 2010 onwards the auditions are held as usual: a candidate must pass a standard audition, as well as "Know-your-music" audition, where he/she sings excerpts from the repertoire for the year to show the conductor that he/she knows the music.

    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 employed Christo Burger as official new conductor. The Camerata appointed Michael Joseph Barrett as the official conductor as from 1 April 2013.

    Upcoming performances

    Lunch Hour Concert: Musaion, 17 October 2013, 12:40

    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 Tuks Camerata (2006)
  • Khutso - Chant for Peace - Singkronies Chamber Choir, The University Of Pretoria Chorale and Cant'Afrika (2006)
  • Songs

    IndodanaPhoenix · 2014
    Ndikhokhele BawoLove and War · 2016
    SpokewalsPhoenix · 2014

    References

    University of Pretoria Camerata Wikipedia