In September 2006 the Stellenbosch University Choir celebrated 70 years of choral activities with a reunion – 400 former members attended the festive occasion. This reunion was living testimony to the positive impact that the choir has had on choral activities in South Africa since 1936. In September 2007 the Stellenbosch University Choir hosted a choral festival (KUESTA) where South African university choirs gathered in Stellenbosch for a weekend of choral music.
2011 saw a tour to the Southern Cape as well as a successful visit to the University of Pretoria for the bi-annual KUESTA choral festival. The choir also held their 75th reunion over the first weekend of September 2011, which was attended by over 300 former members of the choir. An album, 2011 In Concert was also released, containing live performance recordings made in the Endler Hall during a Gala concert and in the Musaion at the University of Pretoria during KUESTA.
In the South African context, it becomes increasingly important for the choir to reach out to choirs in less fortunate communities[10]. During 2005 and 2006 the choir hosted an orphan children’s choir from Kayamandi – not only teaching music skills to the children, but also making the University Choir aware of the value of community service.
History
The choir was founded in 1936 by William Morris and has established itself as one of the best choirs in South Africa and the world!
Being the oldest continually running choir in the country, the Stellenbosch University Choir has a rich legacy that is celebrated by old members every five years at the reunion. The last reunion was in 2011 and marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the choir. The reunion was attended by over 300 members, both past and present, and from all the corners of the world.
The current as well as future success of the choir depends largely on the unique heritage and spirit within the choir community which is supported by the choir members, family and friends, as well as the newly established Stellenbosch University Choir Fund.
Previous conductors:
William Morris (1936–1939)
Gawie Cillié (1940–1954)
Philip McLachlan (1955–1976)
Johan de Villiers (1977–1984)
Acáma Fick (1985–1992)
Sonja van der Walt (1993–2002)
André van der Merwe (2003-)
Achievements
Currently the choir is ranked as the second best in the world by Musica Mundi. They are only 3 points behind the Jauniešu Koris Kamer from Latvia, conducted by Maris Sirmais, who are in first place.
> 2010 <
The Choir took part in the World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China, in July, and won the "Champion of the World Choir Games" title in two categories. They received 95.75 for the category: Mixed Choirs and 90.88 for the category: Musica Contemporanea (Contemporary Music).
The World Choir Games is the largest event of its kind. From 15 to 26 July 2010, Shaoxing hosted more than 20 000 choristers from 472 choirs and 83 countries. South Africa was represented by three choirs: Stellenbosch University Choir, Tygerberg Children's Choir and Kearsney College Choir. Stellenbosch University Choir received the highest score (95.75) of any choir participating in the competition, in the category for which they competed against 28 other choirs.
Andre van der Merwe, conductor of the Stellenbosch University Choir, said after the competition: “I am extremely proud of the discipline, passion and dedication of the 112 choir members!” Van der Merwe added that the choir received good television, radio and print exposure, and were excellent ambassadors for their country. They also took part in the champions’ concert, where they performed two competition works and a spiritual.
> 2008 <
In July 2008, the choir participated in the World Choir Games in Graz, Austria, where they received a gold medal in each of the three categories in which they participated. The choir was amongst 22 other choirs from South Africa who were selected to participate in this competition of more than 400 choirs. They won the category "Musica Sacra: Open Category" with 92.13 points and placed second in the category "Gospel & Spiritual" with 92.13 points. In the category "Mixed Youth Choirs", the choir came in fourth with 85.25 points.
At the end of August 2008 the Choir was ranked as the top choir in the category Musica Sacra (Sacred Music) and the fourth best choir overall in the world according to the Musica Mundi World Ranking List!
> 2004 <
In July 2004, the choir won the category "Youth Choirs" at the World Choir Games in Bremen, Germany with 93.13 points.
A definite highlight for the choir in 2004 was their participation with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in Sinfonia Africana by Capetonian composer Hendrik Hofmeyr. This groundbreaking symphony (with an Afrikaans text) is scored for soprano, choir and orchestra.
Repertoire
Every year, the Choir sets out to improve on work done during the previous year. In this respect, there is a definite focus on assembling the repertoire. The repertoire usually incorporates pieces that aim to inspire both the choir members as well as the general audience, and to prepare the choir for future performances and events such as the World Choir Games.
With international events such as these, the repertoire mainly consists of pieces specifically selected to contribute to the overall success of the choir in the specific category of participation. These pieces are often vocally and artistically challenging as well as innovative and unique, with a major focus on modern compositions and uniquely adapted classical favourites.
Recorded media
Main article: Stellenbosch University Choir discography
The Stellenbosch University Choir usually records their full repertoire at the end of each year, normally in September, in the modern Endler Hall at the Conservatory of the University of Stellenbosch. The goal is to release an album every two years, although some exceptions have been made. Other recordings include live concert recordings and are usually sold for a limited time after the recorded performance. These usually include only some of the works prepared as part of the year's repertoire.
Albums:
2011 In Concert (2011)
Stellenbosch University Choir: 1936 - 2011 (2011)
Laudate (2008)
Illumina (2006)
Sinfonia Africana (2004)
Other recordings:
75th Reunion (2011)
KUESTA 2011 (2011)
2010 World Champions (2010)
KUESTA 2007 (2007)
70th Reunion (2006)
For more info, go to www.sun.ac.za/koor
Man in the Mirror
Stellenbosch University Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change
Ooh Change
Make a change
The song "Man in the Mirror" by Stellenbosch University Choir is a powerful call to action for self-reflection and change. It starts by describing the desire to make a change, as the singer turns up his collar on his favorite winter coat, feeling the wind blowing his mind. He then looks around and sees children on the street with not enough to eat and realizes that he cannot be blind to their suffering. He acknowledges that he has previously disregarded these issues and sees himself as a victim of a selfish kind of love.
The chorus repeats the phrase, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change." The singer is not only calling himself to change but also calling listeners to examine themselves and their actions.
Throughout the song, there are references to brokenness, poverty, and hopelessness that plague many communities worldwide. However, the message is one of hope, as change begins with each individual taking responsibility for their own actions and attitudes.
In summary, "Man in the Mirror" is a moving song that calls for self-reflection and action towards societal change. The singer acknowledges past mistakes and calls himself and others to take responsibility for creating a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohh yes, gonna make a change.
I am determined to bring about change and make a difference.
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
The cold and wind are a reminder of the harsh conditions that many people live in, which motivates me to take action.
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
I can no longer ignore the struggles of those less fortunate than me, particularly children who lack basic necessities like food.
A summer disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
Even those who seem to have nothing can still find a way to connect and empathize with each other, as they share the same struggle of having nowhere to go.
That's why I want you to know
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
The first step towards positive change is to look within ourselves and recognize the things that we can improve upon. This song encourages each listener to do their part in making the world a better place, starting with themselves.
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?
The love and focus on oneself often blinds us to the suffering of others. It is necessary to acknowledge those who are less fortunate and recognize how they may feel alone and unsupported.
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
Many people are weighed down by their past pain and disappointment, leaving them lost and directionless. It is important to recognize their struggle and understand why they may feel hopeless.
That's why I'm starting with
Me
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
The responsibility for creating positive change ultimately lies with each individual, which is why we must start with ourselves and our own actions. Only then can we inspire others and create a better world.
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)
Ooh Change
Make a change
The repetition of the 'na na na' and the exhortation to 'make a change' helps to reiterate the importance of the message in the song and encourages listeners to take action.
Contributed by Harper V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Sumbyjay
Oh my God. I love the bass "oh yeah"
@maseengmasitha6212
"Oh yeah"
@deweestitee-nonauh-9238
Fuc*** yeah !
@anamariacatarinomollinedo169
Excellent
Oh my God. Oh yeah
@farhanhasna4046
Me too i love it
@4Noirr_
OHHHH YEAAAAAA
@ifedolapo
Over 7yrs now, and I keep coming back.
@keithmathson8190
Singing in a choir is truly an amazing experience larger than life
@antm64
This hall has fantastic acoustics! LOVE the sound of this choir! Thanks for posting this video!
@desktappingdude3374
Martie Rollin well they are ranked as the best choir in the world according to world choir games....