We received a gold medal and overall 2nd place in the Mixed Youth Choirs division and a silver medal Folk-lore a Capella at the 3rd World Choir Games in Bremen Germany.
The UP Youth Choir is a unique and talented group of South African teenagers, who embody the spirit of their country’s struggle for freedom and peace. As part of the born-free generation, they represent the ideals of Nelson Mandela and the concept of Ubuntu – the universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.
What makes this choir special is the immense bonds of friendship and collegiality that develop among these young people, and the beautiful music they create together. Their performances, whether at informal concerts or international choral festivals, demonstrate the exceptional caliber of their music and the unique qualities of the choir.
At the heart of their music-making is the lesson that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what your personal priorities are. What matters is the experience of working hard together to succeed, and how collaboration often reveals itself as a solution to the many problems our society faces.
Established in 2001 and conducted by Lhente-Mari Pitout since 2005, the UP Youth Choir is part of the multi-choir model of the University of Pretoria. With 90 singers between the ages of 14 and 19 years old, from 34 schools in the greater Tshwane area in Gauteng South Africa, the choir represents the full diversity of South Africa. Embracing this diversity has given them their unforgettable passionate sound and musicality.
We received a gold medal and overall 2nd place in the Mixed Youth Choirs division and a silver medal Folk-lore a Capella at the 3rd World Choir Games in Bremen Germany.
We obtained two gold medals at the inaugural Cantatuks National Youth Choir Eisteddfod
The choir toured Namibia, where they performed with different youth and university choirs from Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund and Walvisbay.
UPYC participated in the “Music in the Mountains” festival in the Drakensberg Region, performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir.
In 2020 we started the year strong with plans to tour to France then the Coronavirus struck us all and forced us to go online