By Sandile Mahlangu

The NWU PUK Choir, a North-West University (NWU) student art society, will be heading to Cape Town for their annual concert tour after it was put on hold by the pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, the choir had no choice but to move their performances online and even pause most of their annual events.

The choir is known for performing contemporary music and choral works from different genres.

Hoping to bring back what used to be known as the “norm” within the choir space, the choir will be embarking on their Christmas tour late in November 2022.

“With this year’s theme being Meliorism, we aim to create a better world through human effort and singing for the betterment of our future,” says Kobus Venter, the choir conductor.

The concert will also focus on what the choir experienced during the past two years while trying to improve the world through music.

“It has been difficult for the choir to be active during the past two years, as it consists of 50 people and singing was the worst thing one could do, considering how the pandemic spread,” says Venter.

The lack of human interaction and singing with masks have been difficult for the choir.

Venter added that “making videos and uploading them on our YouTube channel was not the same as performing in front of an audience and getting an immediate response.”  

Everything starting to change back to normal and the MUSICA! Choir Festival that the choir hosted in May 2022 helped the choir to pave the way for their Cape Town tour.

The choir will be having ten concerts on different stages with different choral groups to bring a fresh flavour to the tour.

They are planning a trip to Western Europe next year as one of the international tours that they do every three years.