The University of Pretoria Youth Choir was established in January 2001 by Professor Johann van der Sandt and since 2005 conducted by Lhente-Mari Pitout. The choir forms part of the multi-choir model of the University of Pretoria. This wonderful regional multicultural youth choir consist of 84 singers between the ages of 14 and 20 years old form 33 schools in the greater Tshwane area. They represent the full diversity of South Africa and embracing this diversity gave this wonderful youth choir their unforgettable passionate sound and musicality.

 

Building on the strong and celebrated history of the Northern Transvaal Youth Choir, the UP Youth Choir achieved many accolades locally and internationally under its new name:

 

• 2004 was our 1st appearance at the World Choir Games were we received a gold medal & overall 2nd place in the Mixed Youth Choirs division & a silver medal & 5th overall in the Folk-lore a Capella division at the 3rd Choir Olympics in Bremen Germany.

 

•  In May 2006 we obtained two gold medals at the inaugural Cantatuks National Youth Choir Eisteddfod and again in May 2007.

 

• In 2007, the UP Youth Choir performed for the Jamaican Embassy at their Independence Day celebrations, held in Soweto.

 

• In 2008 the choir toured to Namibia, where they performed with different youth & university choirs from Windhoek, Keetmans-hoop, Swakopmund & Walvisbay.

 

• In 2009 UPYC participated in the “Music in the Mountains” festival in the Drakensberg Region, performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir.

 

• In June 2010, UP Youth Choir took part in the 13th Annual Alta Pusteria Festival in Pusteria, Italy & performed to highest acclaim in Austria & Germany. They performed at the 2010 National Launch of the Tshwane HCT Campaign, which was hosted by the Tshwane Mayoral AIDS Council.

 

•  In 2011, the choir completed a Concert Tour to Cape Town and Stellenbosch. They also performed at the gala evening of the Tshwane Youth Arts Festival held in the Pretoria State Theatre.

 

• April 2012 showcased the choir as the only choir from South Africa to be invited to participate in the European Music Festival for Young People in Neerpelt, Belgium. They received 1st prize at this illustrious event. The UP Youth Choir organised the only concert in Pretoria of the international group “The Real Group”. The highlight of the 2012 year was the African Premiere of the Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo during their gala concert.

 

• 2013 was used to create the necessary performance capacity to prepare a foundation to compete internationally in 2014. We hosted and performed with the Real group, performed at international conference opening at Sun City, at the Swiss National day, hosted our first Choir Conductors Workshop in Nov, was involved with the national ZAZI – know your strength- campaign perfoming with Zonke and King Nova, hosted awareness events at our choir festivals, performed with the Kokkopelli choir from Canada, signed a special corporation agreement with Ndlovu Youth Choir and celebrated their wonderful HIV/Aids project through an outreach day in Moutse conducting workshops and performing at the first ever Choir Festival held in a rural area in South Africa. Their outreach tour to Namibia was a special highlight of the 2013 choir year. The UP Youth Choir won the Gauteng Chorale competition arranged by the Gauteng Department: Sports, Art, Recreation and Culture and will represent South Africa as the only choir at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna from 4 - 8 July 2014. They will also participate in three Champions Categories of the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia from 9 – 14 July 2014.

 

• 2014 so far saw the choir hosting 5 choir festivals, performed at the Dutch Kings Day, performed for the Clash of the Choir Metropolitan TV ad, at exhibitions and special corporate events such as the Gauteng Theatre awards. The conductor and 6 alumni presented a series of African workshops to 800 choristers in France in May and the 25th June with Soweto Gospel Choir and Chicago Children’s Choir. Their tour from 30 June – 15th July will see the UP Youth Choir ready to successfully participate in both international competitions and to build new alliances and friendships through the powerful tool of music. Their tour will be kicked off with an African Workshop and concert with local choir in Salzburg from where they will proudly represent South Africa in the Summa Cum Laude Music Competition in Vienna. They are brimming with excitement to bring back gold in the Mixed Youth Choirs, Spiritual and Scenic Folklore categories.