First choral academy for the Western Cape opens in Stellenbosch
Next month sees the official launch of the first-ever choral academy in the Western Cape. Based in Stellenbosch, the Cape Choral Academy will give musically talented learners from across the province the opportunity to not only develop as musicians, but thrive within a creative environment that produces leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers.
With the Academy opening its doors in 2023, auditions have opened for grade 4 to 9 learners and the official launch event takes place in Stellenbosch on 3 September.
“The Cape Choral Academy is not a music school, it’s not a choir, it’s not a mainstream school. It is an incubator for entrepreneurs and young minds that think differently,” says founder, Xander Kritzinger.
“The words ‘renaissance’, ‘new way of thinking’ and ‘fresh without reinventing the wheel’ come to mind when referring to the Cape’s only choral academy.”
The Academy is the brainchild of respected local music educator Kritzinger, who is a choral conductor, tenor, vocal pedagogue and composer of predominantly vocal music, who began his music career as a member of the Drakensberg Boys Choir.
Kritzinger has been the full-time choral conductor at Stellenbosch High School since 2008 and teacher of predominantly boy and young male voices. Since 2014 he has served as conductor of the Viva Cantare community choir from Stellenbosch and in 2019 he established the Stellies Children’s Choir, a community choir for primary school learners from the greater Stellenbosch area. Kritzinger is also a part-time voice lecturer at the Music Department of Stellenbosch University.
The Academy will start with 40 learners aged 9 to 14. The long-term vision is to expand this unique scholarly community to accommodate 80 children up to 18 years of age.
“Our purpose is for learners to have a broad and mindful perspective of life and to develop their cognitive abilities through alternative academic excellence, mentorship, physical and mental fitness with a focus on the highest standard of music education – both instrumental and vocal,” says Kritzinger.
An academic programme forms the basis for any school of excellence and this music-focused institution is no exception. Working in partnership with the Stellenbosch University, the Academy is adopting a hybrid system of education where in-person classes in small group format will be combined with a reputable online, IEB curriculum. Expert mentors and academic facilitators sourced from the learned community in Stellenbosch will offer one-on-one tutoring.
Learners who are not from Stellenbosch will live in a boarding house near the main premises. Trained live-in dormitory staff will oversee the learners from diverse backgrounds who will grow in a place of community, benefiting from activities that will address physical and mental health, leadership development and mentorship.
At the heart of the Academy’s philosophy lies the deep-rooted belief that music enriches, unlocks potential and is meant to be shared.
“This choir will follow the tradition of choral music in its original form, namely as an ecclesiastical tool to serve communities in the spiritual aspects of society. Ours will be a choir not for the purpose of entertainment but for spiritual enrichment on a deeper level,” says Kritzinger.
Lovers of choral music and visitors to Stellenbosch will be able to share in the musical delight as they will have the opportunity to observe or even participate in the daily morning and evening meditational services to be hosted by the NG Kerk Stellenbosch Welgelegen, NG Kerk Stellenbosch Moederkerk and NG Kerk Stellenbosch Kruiskerk. Daily choir rehearsals as well as a weekly choral matin or evensong will also be open to the public.
“We are at the threshold of worldwide renaissance, a new way of thinking and a rebirth of thought in society. We believe that the Cape Choral Academy stands at the forefront of this new way of doing, new way of thinking – and we do it through music.”
For more information, to schedule an audition or to RSVP for the launch event on 3 September, contact Xander Kritzinger at xander.kritz@capechoral.com or on tel 074 889 3848.
