South African Tour A Dream Come True!

In July, 2007 the Pikes Peak Singers participated in an international festival held in Salt Lake City, Utah. There they met the African Children’s Choir from a small village in Nigeria. These young African singers had formed this choir to help fund the home that they lived in together. They were all orphans. The Children’s Chorale’s Pikes Peak Singers fell in love with these young people and hoped that one day they could go to Africa and not only deliver their musical message of hope but also serve in an orphanage such as this one. This summer the dream came true as 30 of our singers from 2 of our groups traveled to South Africa to sing and serve! The trip included many wonderful musical exchanges, including a special invitation to participate in Taal-en Kultuurvereeniging (ATKV – Afrikaans Language and Culture Association) annual Animato choir competition. “This is REALLY BIG!!!!!!! It is one of the biggest and most prestigious choir competitions in South Africa and is usually only open to provincial choirs,” said Oliver Scofield, our tour coordinator from Kingsway International Concerts. The trip also included an educational visit to the Apartheid Museum, a visit to a game preserve, and an important service project in an orphanage.

Our young singers served as powerful musical ambassadors in South Africa and carried with them our vision of a better world through song.

Sunday, June 18, 2011
We are finally here! The singers did a wonderful job on the plane ride—keeping each other company, meeting new people, singing, and eating—count them 3 meals!

Our hotel is nice and the restaurant where we had dinner was very nice as well. The kids sang for their dessert which caused quite a crowd to gather. Even though they were tired they performed with enthusiasm and smiles. Great kids!!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011
I will try my best to capture the spirit of yesterday in this email—in a word, it was INCREDIBLE!

In a quick visit to the Bishop Bavin School we were warmly greeted by the entire staff and the choir from the Choir School. We were treated to a song by the school choir and then our kids then sang. There is such a wonderful instant connection through singing that we knew we had new friends immediately!

In the afternoon we headed for the Kulanhi Choir School. This choir school is an after-school program to keep kids off the streets – the streets being those of the cardboard and tin houses that we passed on the way. Once there we were again warmly greeted by the staff of this magical place. First we were taken on a tour of the school and met the many physically disadvantaged kids who called the school home. They were filled with such a sweet spirit which shone through in their wonderful smiles and cheery greetings to us. Then we were taken to the gym to meet the choir students. The gym was a run-down structure, obviously open to the elements and quite chilly, BUT the incredible warmth exuding from the choir students was all we needed to feel right at home. What happened next is where words fail me! The musical experience was one that we will never forget. The young people from the school sang with a musical depth that was stunning. Their sound was amazing and their spirits uplifting. The room was electric. Our kids loved them and they loved our kids. The two hours together flew by and no one wanted to leave. We sang Dream a Dream and, with not a dry eye, all said good-bye. We were struck by the fact that these young people who had what most of us would consider a very rough life choose to be happy and productive and bring joy to those around them with their music.

We later met and enjoyed an exchange concert with singers from the Colle Voce Choir and Cantare, both choirs from the east region of Johannesburg.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
After the first day we couldn’t imagine how our days could continue to be as wonderful but they have been. The Bishop Bavin kids are the cutest bunch of kids with very proper gray school uniforms and purple hats that they wear to signify that they are in the choir school part of Bishop Bavin. Our kids have “adopted” them as little brothers and sisters. The evening’s Winter Soiree Concert concert setting was in the dining hall of the school which reminded all of us of the dining room at Hogwart’s from the “Harry Potter” movies. There were two roaring fires in the dining hall fireplaces that flanked the stage. It really was quite magical!

After singing at the school’s morning Mass in their beautiful chapel, we said goodbye to our new friends and were off to the Apartheid Museum. The museum was a very stark structure and was equally as stark inside. It was definitely a harsh depiction of a terrible time in South Africa’s history. When we debriefed the experience at the end of the day, the kids shared the following:

“This was so important for us to understand. It was really hard for me but I am so glad that I came here today.”
“We need to see things like this so we don’t forget and won’t let things like this happen anymore.”
“I was sick to my stomach with some of the things I saw in there but it was important for me to see them.”
“We can make a difference by not letting this type of thing happen. Even in little ways we should not discriminate against others.”
“The human spirit can overcome such hard adversity.”

They are insightful and thoughtful young people.

After lunch we went to an African market – a place filled with curios, beaded jewelry, drums, fabrics—and lots of it. The kids were told by our guide to bargain with the vendors and many did. They had fun with the whole experience and many bags of things appeared on the bus.

 

Thursday, June 23
Our day started at St. Stithians College where we sang at the chapel service for the boys in the prep division the school. St. Stithians has 5 different schools on a beautiful and huge campus. The music department for the Boys College section hosted us all day long. The guys were so nice to be with and very handsome in their suit jackets and ties which they wear to school every day. We worked with a gentleman from Senegal who teaches drumming and marimba at the school. The kids learned a piece and then the award winning marimba group from the school came in and played for them. Unbelievable!!!

Tonight’s concert was another huge success. The boys college choir was 80 strong. They also presented their smaller select ensemble, The Dukes. Then our kids took the stage and wowed the crowd!! The finale included two combined numbers with the college choir, and then one of the boys spontaneously started a fantastic African piece– everyone was dancing and singing. Have we been living our vision of a better world through song? You better believe it and tonight was no exception.

 

Friday, June 24
After some shopping and a few hours of travel we finally arrived at Bush Camp! “Welcome to Africa!” was what we heard from the kids as we drove into the Pilanesburg Game Park. Baboons, springbok, and the warthog greeted us at the entrance. Once in the park we found our living quarters—the Bosele Camp in dorm rooms for the young people and chaperones and Safari Tents for the staff. Our hostess told us to keep our doors and windows closed so that the baboons could not come in and go through our stuff. She said that they were naughty that way.

After a wonderful meal we had a camp meeting with camp songs, games, a sweet treat, and sharing time, finishing the evening hand in hand singing Dream a Dream. What a remarkable group of young people!

Saturday, June 25
Safari day! Before we even got on the safari trucks we were greeted by monkeys, baboons, and more springbok right in our camp. Some of us were even awakened in the early morning hours by the lions roaring in the distance. Yes, we really are in Africa! We loaded up on the big safari trucks and had barely started when the kids spotted giraffes (no pun intended) then the fun just kept coming—lions sunning themselves close to the road, hornbills, zebra, gnu, impala, water buck, springboks, and a hippo in the lake. It was quite chilly in our open truck (it’s the beginning of winter in South Africa) so when we arrived at the half-way station we were happy to indulge in some hot chocolate. Though quite chilly we had a WONDERFUL time on our morning safari. It was back to camp for lunch and then out again where we saw more wildlife including a rhino family- dad, mom, and baby. What a treat!! Our last night at camp included a delicious meal followed by a campfire with our favorite camp songs and an astronomy lesson. Since we are on the other side of the world we are seeing constellations that are completely different than ours. The evening ended around the campfire singing Hallelujah. We are certainly grateful and are rejoicing in our wonderful time here in South Africa. It is a gift that we will always treasure…

Sunday, June 26
Today we performed twice during the ATKV choir competition as guest performers. It was fun to just perform and not have the pressure of competing. Our very own Brad was asked to be a judge at the competition so he enjoyed the event from a different perspective.

We are looking forward to going to Soweto tomorrow, and will meet our new friends at the orphanage.

 

Monday, June 27
Our last full day in Africa was filled with thought provoking moments. After our massive buffet breakfast at the hotel we headed to Soweto, the township where Mandela and Tutu both lived and the place where the stage was set for the end of Apartheid. The poverty is extreme with people living in cardboard and tin houses, no plumbing, people cooking outside over an open fire, etc. Our guide was born and raised in this township and was eager to share his experience. He shared with us that the people were happy and productive in Soweto. He said that living in poverty is not the same as living in misery. We were struck by the terrible reality of Apartheid when we saw the place where school children were shot to death by the police because they were demonstrating against the Bantu Education. They wanted to be successfully educated and were willing to step up and let people know. There are monuments and sculptures that commemorate these young people that are moving and inspirational.

After lunch at a mall we headed to the orphanage. Again, words can’t describe the sweet moments that we all experienced there. We played fun games, sang camp songs, and did a mini concert. One of the teenagers in the home was an amazing drummer and played on his own and with many of our songs. The little ones (18 months-3 years old) joined us after their nap and we all fell in love! Our kids gave of themselves once again with an openness that touches everyone around them. They loved giving their gifts—the pajamas, shirts, and blankets filled two tables almost 4 ft. high. The little ones loved the books, crayons, coloring books, bubbles, art supplies, etc. Our kids helped them open everything and colored with them or played a game.

The staff at the facility were so grateful for the things that we brought. They couldn’t get over how much we brought. Everyone was touched by the way that our kids shared with the kids in the home. They truly understand the art of giving—making it about others not themselves and helping everyone to feel important. We are so proud of them!

Tomorrow is our big last day before we head home. We will visit the Lesedi Village and the Cheetah Preserve!

Tuesday, June 28

Our last day was full of adventures as we explored the Lesedi Village. The tour of that place included interesting food—worm snacks in the Zulu village, and an amazing feast complete with ostrich and crocodile. Most of us were pretty adventurous and tried these foods. There were so many choices on the feast menu that no one went hungry! Our time there concluded with a dance demonstration where our own Arthur was featured as a mighty warrior! Then it was on to the Cheetah Center which all agreed was one of the highlights of the trip. Many of our members donated to the Center and were able to then pet a beautiful cheetah named Byron. He seemed to be enjoying himself as he purred loudly the whole time. After that experience we boarded safari trucks and went into the camps where there were hyena, wild dogs, ostriches, and of course cheetahs. It was amazing to see these animals up close and learn about their habits and about how we as humans impact their existence on the planet.

We said goodbye to our hosts at the Cheetah Center and headed for the airport where our journey home became the focus. We did a little last minute shopping and then boarded our plane for Washington. It was a bittersweet moment as we left our new favorite place, South Africa, for the homes and families that we missed while we were traveling.

So now I leave you with something our guide said —The spirit of South Africa is “I am because you are.” He asked the kids to think about how they contribute to the well-being of others, how they make others great and then they themselves become great because of it. That idea changed the tide of a whole country. It is a concept that our kids “get” and have modeled throughout this trip. This is an accomplishment that many never quite reach and our young people already have experienced. They are to be applauded!