Voices of
Keleabetswe Narenti
“When a choir sings, many hearts
beat as one” said Mr Jafta Motsokoane, Choir Master.
Humble beginnings
The past three years have been a
winding road for the Vaal Campus
Choir, Voices of the River. The choir,
formed in September 2011, was
known as the Vaal Campus Choir
until Management came up with the
concept Voices of the River. Mr Motsokoane says that the choir was just
a clap and clap kind of choir before.
The choir recruits new members in
the beginning of every academic year
on the Vaal Campus by hosting auditions, but these are only preliminary
auditions because of new students
coming in and some members completing their studies. Mr Motsokoane
says because of the choir’s number it
is not divided into groups, but rather
performs as one mixed with male and
female performers.
The choir usually performs at Campus events such as the Graduation
Ceremonies. The choir recently took
part in the 2014 National Choir Festival (NCF) on 21 September held at
the University of Johannesburg and
come in 4th position with the Western
piece and 8th position with the Afri-
PROFILE
the
can piece.
“The choir is still being groomed
and developed into a choral/classical choir for it to better represent the
Campus and be more competitive.”
Says Mr Motsokoane.
The master behind the Voices
The choir is led by Mr Motsokoane,
loving husband to Lydia Motsokoane
and father to two girls, Tshepang (17)
and Botle (13) “family, church, my
passion for choral music and turning
talent into careers are very important
to me”, he said.
Besides being a choir instructor, Mr
Jafta Motsokoane is a music teacher
and a minor composer, some of his
songs can be accessed on the South
African Music Rights Organisation
(SAMRO) website, Mr Motsokoane
is an administrator and building manager at the Koinonia Bible Church.
He also runs a music school for conductors at a nearby primary school
in Sebokeng Zone 14. He says that
one of his students took part in the
provincial level at the SASCE as a
conductor and came in 1st place; Mr
Motsokoane currently has four students in hi ͍́