The Stellenberg Girls' Choir was founded
in 1999 under the direction of André van der Merwe. From the onset the
choir received critical acclaim as an instrument that broadens the
horizons of singing at school level. Stellenberg High School has become
well-known in South Africa as a school where choral singing is
celebrated. Download soundtracks.
Since 1999 the choir has achieved the following:
Overall winners of the Sans Souci
Choir Competition (2001).
Overall winners of the Tygerberg
International Eisteddfod (1999 - 2002, 2004).
Overall winners of the Stellenbosch
Eisteddfod (1999 - 2002).
Overall winners of the National ATKV
Choir Competition (1999 - 2001, 2003 - 2005).
At the Llangollen Eisteddfod in
Wales (2002) they were the first-ever school choir to win the
category for Adult Female Choirs. In the Choir of the World competition
they received a second prize.
At the Choir Olympiad in Bremen
(2004) they won gold medals in the categories "Folklore Acapella"
and "Youth Choir Equal Voices". They also attained the highest mark
in the competition.
In 2006 they won the ATKV-Applous Competition for
the 8th time.
At the Llangollen Eisteddfod in
Wales (2006) they won the category for Folk Music, as well as the
prized trophy, "Choir of the World".
Invited to the
International Olympics for choirs in Graz during July 2007.
One of 6 choirs
(out of a total of 464 participating choirs worldwide) to
participate in a Worldwide TV production while in Graz.
- André with trophy -
André van der Merwe is
a choral conductor and composer from Cape Town. He is a popular guest conductor,
adjudicator and clinician nationally and internationally.
André registered for the B.Mus (Performers) at the University of Cape
Town, but after an injury to his hand he had to change course. He
subsequently received the B.Drama (Directing) from the University of
Stellenbosch and directed stage productions for the Grahamstown
International Arts Festival to critical acclaim.
André conducted the Pro Cantu Youth Choir from 1997 to 2003. Currently
he conducts the Stellenbosch University Choir, the Fidentia South
African Youth Choir and the Stellenberg Girls Choir. These three
ensembles have won various awards at national and international
competitions.
In 2005 André also established the Fidentia South African Youth Choir.
Members come from all over South Africa and are situated in Cape Town.
This choir - a first for South Africa - is representative of the true
demographics of the country and celebrates unity within cultural
diversity.
André was invited as one of the international jury members at the World
Choral Games in Xiamen, China in July 2006.
He is renowned for his dynamic approach
to choral singing. This means that a choir concert is no longer just an
aural experience, but also a visual one. As a choir master he strives to
discover fresh possibilities for expression.
