We Chat To
Luthando Klaas, Conductor of the Boland Chamber Choir
Over a cup of strong coffee, on the stoep of the Montagu Country Hotel, I meet Luthando Klaas, a very talented and passionate young man from Zolani.
Montagu-Ashton Tourism has been supporting Luthando and the Boland Chamber Choir in the last year, because MATA understands the need for creating positivity and passion in our youth, especially by giving them opportunities that they might not have had previously.
Luthando shared with me all the great opportunities that are available for his choir, but also the limitations of funding and resources.
I’ve always believed in Sun Tzu’s saying : “opportunities multiply as they are seized”.
The same goes for this amazing up-and-coming youth choir from our own region.
What better time to share this with our readers!
Luthando responds very professionally to the many questions I ask, starting with a formal introduction that answers most of them and makes me even more excited to help and support this cultural project.
“Let me take this opportunity to introduce you the Boland Chamber Choir. Boland Chamber Choir is a group of young people from around Zolani location, aged between 12 and 24 years. The name Boland Chamber Choir derived from the idea of a young man who had a vision of grooming young children in the community through music and take them out of substance abuse, and also represent the Boland Region to the outskirts.
Our main objective is to empower each other through music, building each other’s self-confidence, self-discipline, and personal development, by developing a creative, an analytical and intuitive understanding of music as a cultural language. We promote diversity among our disadvantaged backgrounds and inspire an artistic integrity through performance of music. The choir has a positive impact on the youth by decreasing the number of people abusing alcohol and drugs.
Zolani is a small location where most parents are seasonal workers, where kids have nothing to do after school except roam the streets and end up smoking, being alcoholics or being victims of teenage pregnancy. I saw a need to find a safe place for these kids and form a choir, as music is the only thing I am good at and have a passion for.
I am Luthando Klaas (25). Music runs in my blood, as I started singing in church at the age of 3, and at the age of 14 I joined a choir which shaped me in the ways of the folklore music I teach today.
The vision of this choir is to represent this small town to the outside world. We want to be recognised among the best choirs in the world and to show that, regardless of your background or lack of resources to master your craft, your destination is defined by passion, commitment, discipline and hard work.
The choir will be going to George from the 5th to the 9th of August 2022, as we have entered the 6th National Schools Choral Festival and Competition. Many choirs from all over South Africa and abroad will come together and showcase their talents in the choral arts. Being part of this competition will allow us to give and receive inspiration. As much as conductors work to motivate, encourage and inspire choirs, peer inspiration is even more effective: children inspire children, and most effectively through live performance.
We would like to ask the community to assist us to make this trip possible. We need mostly financial support. If you wish to help in any way, you may contact Luthando Klaas on 078 864 3364.
I would like the youth of SA to stand up and do it for ourselves, and be an inspiration and make ourselves proud”.
All those with a passion for our youth, music, choirs and beautiful futures – please help us support Luthando and the Boland Chamber Choir. You’re welcome to contact me mareletta@loudadvertising.co.za or Luthando directly.
SH28 NOTHWALANA STREET
ZOLANI
ASHTON
6715
Bolandchamberchoir@gmail.com
