We are a vibrant youth choir, uniting young talents from all backgrounds.
Join us as we strive to uplift spirits and create a sense of belonging through unforgettable musical experiences.
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 friendships 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 calibre of their music and the choir’s unique qualities.
At the heart of their music-making is the lesson that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or your priorities. What matters is the experience of working 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.
Explore our journey, marked by unforgettable moments and rich musical experiences.
Each milestone represents our growth as a choir, reflecting our dedication to harmony and collaboration.
Join us in celebrating our past as we look forward to the future.
December 2025 – International Tour & Competition Success (Czech Republic & Germany)
From 3–16 December 2025, the UP Youth Choir embarked on an international tour to Prague (Czech Republic) and Berlin, Detmold, and Heidenheim (Germany).
A major highlight of the tour was winning First Prize at the 33rd Prague Advent and Christmas Choral Festival, an internationally acclaimed choral competition.
International Collaboration with Neuer Kammerchor Heidenheim
We were delighted to reunite with the renowned German ensemble, Neuer Kammerchor Heidenheim, during their recent tour of South Africa. Sharing the stage with such an exceptional choir was an inspiring experience—one that our singers will never forget.
European Tour Highlights
We began the year with great excitement as we resumed preparations for our long-awaited European tour, originally postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, our dream finally became reality as we touched down in Munich, Germany.
Tour Highlights:
This unforgettable journey not only enriched us musically but also deepened our global friendships and cultural appreciation.
Reconnecting Through Nature
We are delighted to have resumed our outdoor camping activities, creating opportunities for members to reconnect with nature and strengthen bonds with one another. After the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, returning to these outdoor adventures has been a refreshing and uplifting experience for all involved.
Easter Celebration Concert
In April, we hosted a spectacular Easter concert featuring special guests Este Gross and Hemel Besem. The event marked the exciting release of Este’s latest single, “Deur die Storm”, and brought together music lovers for an evening of inspiration, celebration, and unforgettable performances.
Midlands Tour with the Drakensberg Boys Choir
Our recent tour to the Midlands was a true highlight, as we had the honour of performing alongside the iconic Drakensberg Boys Choir. This collaboration was a powerful celebration of musical excellence and a memorable opportunity to share our passion with new audiences.
Adapting Through Adversity
During the challenges of lockdown, our choir remained committed to excellence and connection. By introducing small-group rehearsals with strict social distancing protocols, we continued to grow musically while prioritizing the health and safety of our members. This innovative approach ensured that our voices—and our spirit—never fell silent.
We started 2020 with a lot of momentum and exciting plans for an international tour in France. However, the global outbreak of COVID-19 put those plans on hold. Despite the challenges, we quickly adapted by moving our rehearsals and activities online, ensuring that the music continued.
Tour Highlights
Earlier this year, the choir participated in the annual Music in the Mountains Festival held by the Drakensberg Boys Choir in the scenic Drakensberg, delivering a series of memorable performances.
International Success
In December, the choir embarked on an international tour to Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria, culminating in their participation at the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Bratislava, Slovakia. The choir triumphed as category winners in all three of their performance categories and were honoured with the prestigious Grand Prix award.
The UP Youth Choir’s recent performances include a memorable appearance at the Mandela Centenary celebration, where they shared the stage with former U.S. President Barack Obama. Their impressive track record continues with another gold medal added to their collection, following their success in Latvia 2014, where they earned three gold medals. At the World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa, the choir earned yet another gold medal in the Mixed Youth Choir category of the Champions Competition.
In 2017 and 2018, the choir graced several prestigious events, including embassy celebrations and the International Women’s Day event at the Embassy of the Netherlands. Their dynamic and high-energy performances were also a highlight at the National Education Excellence Awards.
UPYC is honoured to collaborate with renowned international choirs and share the stage with incredible talent. Recent performances have included partnerships with the Waelrant Youth Choir from Belgium, the Kokopelli Youth Choir from Edmonton, Canada, and the Shallaway Youth Choir from St. John’s, Canada.
A Milestone Year for the UP Youth Choir
This year marked a monumental chapter in the history of the UP Youth Choir (UPYC), with a tour to Canada in April that showcased the richness of African music and inspired audiences at three prestigious international festivals as the featured choir.
These included:
Demonstrating the power of diversity, the choir was also invited by the Artistic Director of the 9th Choralies Festival to perform our acclaimed production, Naledi: An African Journey, which features all 11 official South African languages. The choir captivated an audience of approximately 7,000 people, taking centre stage as the main act at the festival in France.
The year concluded with a series of remarkable performances, including:
Additionally, the choir performed at the prestigious CSIR National Excellence Awards, where the performance was broadcast live to seven cities across South Africa.
In addition to hosting monthly choir festivals, the choir has had the privilege of welcoming prestigious international ensembles, including the Neuer Kammerchor from Germany, the Chicago Children’s Choir, the Soweto Gospel Choir, the Leuvens Meisjes, and the Moll Community Choir from Belgium.
The choir has also been honoured to perform at notable events such as the Dutch King’s Day celebration and the National Women’s Day commemoration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
A highlight of the choir’s journey was their transformative European tour, where they earned first place in the Summa Cum Laude competition in Vienna and won three gold medals at the 8th World Choir Games, excelling in the Mixed Choirs, Scenic Folklore, and Spiritual categories.
The choir’s ‘The Joyful Noise’ show, featuring Lloyd Cele, premiered on November 22-23, 2014, marking the pinnacle of their exceptional performances.
The choir successfully embarked on a Concert Tour to Cape Town and Stellenbosch, captivating audiences with their performances. Additionally, they had the honour of performing at the prestigious gala evening of the Tshwane Youth Arts Festival, held at the Pretoria State Theatre.
UPYC participated in the “Music in the Mountains” festival in the Drakensberg Region, performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir.
Embarked on a global tour to Namibia, performing alongside esteemed youth and university choirs in Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, and Walvis Bay.
Gold Medal Winners: Our choir proudly took home two gold medals at the inaugural Cantatuks National Youth Choir Eisteddfod, a prestigious event that celebrates the best of young vocal talent in the country.
We’re proud to have achieved a significant milestone at the 3rd World Choir Games in Bremen, Germany. Our Mixed Youth Choirs division earned a Gold Medal and Overall 2nd Place, while our Folk-lore a Capella group took home a Silver Medal. This outstanding achievement is a testament to our dedication to excellence in choral performance.
At UP Youth Choir, we believe in the power of music to bridge cultures and ignite change. Our mission focuses on nurturing talent while celebrating diversity. Let’s embark on a journey that connects hearts through song.
