The NWU Puk Choir charmed audiences with their exceptional singing talent during the recent 54th International Choir Competition in Spittal, Austria, and as a result received the prize as the audience’s favourite choir.

This choir also outrivalled choristers from Germany, Ireland, Slovenia and Austria, among other places, in the division for folk songs, where the NWU PUK Choir came second after the USA and Indonesia in joint first place.

This international choir competition, the Internationaler Chorwettbewerb Spittal an der Drau, known for the very high standards of the choirs competing, formed part of the NWU Puk Choir’s tour to various European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy.

Conductor Kobus Venter said it is not easy to win the Publikum prize as the audience’s favourite choir. “The audience does not only listen to the technical aspects of a choir’s performance, but also looks out for the ’heart’ of the choir. There were so many outstanding choirs from across the world, and winning this prize was an exceptional achievement and a very big honour. It also was a special privilege to be able to share our traditional music on a world stage.”

Hanru de Vos, chairperson of the NWU Puk Choir, said they believe they managed to promote appreciation for choir music and at the same time touch people’s hearts during this year’s European tour.

It is clear from the highlights that the NWU Puk Choir experienced in Europe that they have the singing talent to compete with the best in the world and be victorious.

Visit the NWU Puk Choir’s Facebook page for photos and videos of the historic tour. The choir’s new CD, Ukuthula, is available from NWU Potch Arts in the Heimat Building (F9).

The NWU Puk Choir was chosen as the favourite choir of the audience during the international choir competition. The Publikum prize was a Black Forest Cherry Cake with a photo of the choir on top. The choir also won this prestigious prize in 1993 and 1997.