Only choir to have sung on all 7 continents returns to South Africa
Philadelphia, June 27, 2011: Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) will embark on a three-week concert tour in South Africa on July 6, 2011. Having toured South Africa in its first season, KSB is returning to the country with the distinction of being the only choir to have sung on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
This “Happy Birthday, Madiba!” Concert Tour* will honor through song and community service the great Nelson Mandela. Mandela has asked that, on his birthday (July 18th), his fellow South Africans perform 67 minutes of community service, rather than simply take a day off. The 67 minutes represents the number of years he spent fighting apartheid. KSB has decided to travel to South Africa during the hero’s birthday month and honor his request in every city they visit.
Steven Fisher, Associate Music Director, says: “Nelson Mandela is one of the few, true heroes alive today. It’s important that the boys know who he is, and what he stands for. He stood up for South Africans and in doing so, stood up for us all. ”
The Boychoir will sing concerts in Kimberley, Winterton, Piet Retief, Kruger National Park, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Nylstroom, Soweto, Tygerberg, Cape Town, and Rondebosch. The Boychoir will be hosted by the St. Cyprian’s Grammar School, Kimberley Children’s Choir, Drakensberg Boys Choir, Highveld Youth Choir, Jakaranda Kinderkoor, Tyberberg Kinderkoor, and the Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School. This “Happy Birthday Madiba” Concert Tour will honor, through song, the great Nelson Mandela. Each day of the concert tour, the boys will perform 67 minutes of community and musical service, as requested by Madiba.
Performances include:
SUNDAY, JULY 10TH - KIMBERLEY
15:00 Joint Concert with Northern Cape Choral Institute Choir at St. Cyprian’s
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13th - WINTERTON
15:30 Joint concert with Drakensberg Boys’ Choir and Canadian Children’s Choir
THURSDAY, JULY 14TH - PIET RETIEF
19:00 Joint concert with Highveld Youth Choir at Piet Retief High School
MONDAY, JULY 18TH - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
17:00 “Happy Birthday Madiba!” Concert at Skukuza Rest Camp Convention Center
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20TH - PRETORIA
19:00 Joint Concert with Jakaranda Children’s Choir at University of Pretoria
SATURDAY, JULY 23RD - SOWETO
10:00 Memorial Service at Hector Peterson Memorial
12:00 Sing-In! with Regina Mundi Church Youth Choir at Regina Mundi
MONDAY, JULY 25TH – CAPE TOWN
14:00 Memorial Service on Robben Island
Under the direction of co-founders Joseph P. Fitzmartin and Steven M. Fisher, the Keystone State Boychoir consists of 160 members between the ages of 8 and 18 from diverse backgrounds.
KSB has sung with the area’s most distinguished ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Opera Company of Philadelphia, serving as the latter’s official boychoir. KSB has performed internationally at the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, and the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia as well as in venues throughout Alaska, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Monaco, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Chile and Antarctica.
The KSB experience centers on its truly joyful music making. The vibrant sound of the choir is enhanced by its compelling stage presence. Fitzmartin and Fisher believe that today’s choral music must be seen and felt, as well as heard, if the art form is to continue to thrive and to attract new audiences.
More information at www.keystonestateboychoir.org
* Madiba is a title of respect for Nelson Mandela, deriving from his Xhosa clan name.
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Contact: Angela Wende, 001-267-265-3165 awende@comcast.net
Keystone State Boychoir 35 W. Chelten Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
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