The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir of South Africa is widely considered among the very elite of choral groups from around the world. In March 2007 US audiences in fifteen eastern cities will find out for themselves why no other Boychoir in the world can thrill audiences the way the “Drakies” do with their unique style of diversity. Whether singing classical, rock, pop, jazz, African, or folk, they never fail to bring audiences to their feet. The Cincinnati concert follows the performance on March 7 for the bi-annual American Choral Directors Association’s National Convention in Miami. The proceeds from this 15 city tour will go to fund their school in South Africa. Established in January 1967, the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School is set on a 100-acre estate, located in the Central Drakensberg in the KwaZulu-Natal province. It is one of the few educational institutes of its kind in the world that combine academics and sports with a strong emphasis on music. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir is representative of the multi-faceted cultures that make up South Africa, being one of the first multi-cultural choirs in the country, enrolling the first black pupil in 1988. Their music represents this diversity. Although they are world-renowned for their performances of African music, the choir is equally at home in classical, rock, pop, jazz, African, or folk. Whatever they sing they do so with enthusiasm and aplomb. More information about the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School can be found on the web at www.dbchoir.co.za. Tickets to the Drakensberg Boys‘ Choir Concert are available at the door for $20 for per person. Children under 6 are not admitted to this particular concert. For more information, call the Cincinnati Boychoir at 396-7664.
The Cincinnati Boychoir, founded in 1965, comprises boys as young as third grade to voice change from all over the Greater Cincinnati area. It performs six subscription series concerts annually, as well as about 35 additional outreach performances each year for symphonies, television, community organizations, churches, nursing homes, weddings, clubs, and retirement homes. It has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chorus. The choir tours nationally and internationally, most recently as the featured choir for the Oakville Children's Choir Boychoir Festival in Ontario, Canada. The Cincinnati Boychoir is funded by contributions, concert income, tuition, fundraisers, and sales. The choir also gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ohio Arts Council and the Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund.