Berks Youth Chorus Brings Zulu Music to Berks with South African Ensemble

From Berks Youth Chorus

Berks Youth Chorus (BYC) recently announced that the South African performance troupe Thula Sizwe will bring the songs and dances of Zulu culture to Berks County. On March 1 at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Shillington, BYC staff will facilitate a workshop for music educators and a community sing with the 10-man group, followed by a full-length concert performed by the ensemble.

Hailing from Soshanguve, South Africa, Thula Sizwe is a celebrated group of vocalists and dancers who keep the historic musical traditions of Zulu warriors alive on the world stage. Thula Sizwe has performed at high-profile events since its founding in 1984—including Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inauguration—and toured globally, from the United States to Thailand to Hungary. The group has been an international ambassador of South African culture and musical traditions for over 40 years.

A collaboration with the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus (PYC) and the Bach Choir of Bethlehem has made the day’s events possible. “Thula Sizwe was forged in the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa, embodying the power of music as a force for joy and connection in the face of adversity,” said Lee Saville-Iksic, PYC’s Executive Artistic Director.

“We are excited to bring our community opportunities to learn from this dynamic ensemble whose backgrounds are very different from our own,” added Sam Barge, BYC’s Executive and Artistic Director. “Adults and children alike will learn lifelong lessons from Thula Sizwe and their message of unfailing hope and unity.”

Berks County’s premier youth chorus, BYC is a choral and music education organization with a strong focus on community, friendship, and music performance. The organization prepares young singers to serve as community leaders and contribute to a world that is inspired by and connected through music. Its programming includes choirs for singers in grades 3 through 12 and artistic collaborations with high-caliber musicians from Berks County and beyond.

On Saturday, March 1 at Immanuel UCC in Shillington, the day begins with a workshop for music educators, which is the first of many events that day that will provide educators with Act 48 continuing education hours. At 1 p.m., BYC and Thula Sizwe will host a Community Sing, which is open to adults and youth grades 6 and up, for only $5. At 3 p.m., Thula Sizwe will perform a full-length concert open to the public. Tickets are free with a suggested donation of at least $10.

Thula Sizwe’s regional tour, which is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, will include stops in Pittsburgh, Williamsport, Lewisburg, Reading, Trenton, and Princeton, hosting performances and collaborating with music educators from a variety of communities.

BYC is honored to host the visit by this internationally acclaimed ensemble. All event details and registration may be found at berksyouthchorus.org/thula-sizwe.

Program Details:

Saturday, March 1
Immanuel United Church of Christ, Shillington, PA

Professional Devleopment Workshop for Music Educators
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Fee: $10, accepted online and at the door.

The Loose Thread: Navigating the Complexities of Cultural Appropriation in Music Education. This workshop will delve into the nuances of cultural appropriation and imposter syndrome, explore possibilities for intercultural musical experiences centered around honesty, integrity, and honor, and immerse participants in singing and dancing experiences.

Thula Sizwe Community Sing and Concert
Community Sing: 1 p.m.
Fee: $5
Concert: 3 p.m.
Tickets: Pay what you wish, with a suggested donation of $10-30+.

Thula Sizwe opens with a Community Sing, inviting Berks County-region adults and singers in grades 6 and up to join them in performing Zulu music. The group will then present a public concert, complete with the rhythms and choreography of South Africa.

About Berks Youth Chorus

Berks Youth Chorus (BYC) is the premier chorus for young singers in Berks County, PA. Through its choirs for grades 3 to 12 and wide-ranging artistic collaborations, BYC strives to cultivate leadership, confidence, friendship, creativity, and joy for choral singing in young singers. BYC provides singers with opportunities to lead and learn to lead while exploring the world through music.

Led by Executive and Artistic Director Sam Barge, BYC prepares young singers to serve as community leaders and contribute to a world that is inspired by and connected through music.

About Thula Sizwe

Thula Sizwe was born from a love of music, a pride in culture, and a need for expression. Conceived in 1984, the group unofficially formed when Paul Ramafalo recruited Shadrack Mgiba, Alfred Letsoalo, Jonathan Mabuya, and Nicholas Lenkwati in an effort to assemble a singing group. Amid the oppressive policies of Apartheid, a state of emergency declared by the White minority government prohibited Black South Africans from gathering; singing in public was strictly prohibited. Police and soldiers were placed in schools to enforce the law. However, Paul and his friends appealed to the school principal, and together, they convinced the police and military to allow them to sing for no more than 30 minutes after school each day.

Jabulani Abel Dlamini—who is a descendant of generations of Zulu musicians—saw the tremendous potential in the young men and offered to teach the group what he had learned from his ancestors, effectively becoming the group’s leader. He put his talents to work writing music and choreographing songs based on the ancient Zulu tradition where warriors danced and sang to prepare for battle. Others joined the group’s ranks, and the men came together when they could to sing and dance as a means of dealing with the social and political oppression they faced daily.

When Apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela became president in 1994, Thula Sizwe was called upon by the government to be cultural ambassadors for the “new” South Africa—the “Rainbow Nation,” as Desmund Tutu called it. The group has traveled to many countries around the world sharing Zulu culture and promoting goodwill and peace. While performers have come and gone over the years, several of the founding members continue to sing with the group today, and Abel still serves as the group’s leader.

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Source: bctv