13 July 2024
The internationally acclaimed Kearsney College Choir arrives back in Durban on Saturday with another
international honour after winning the overall Grand Prix Award as the Champions of the Golden Voices of
Barcelona in Spain on Thursday.
At the final gala event, the 54-strong choir was named the winner of the Youth Choirs category. Having
also scored exceptionally high in their second category, Folklore, Kearsney was crowned the overall champion, too.
Most of the competing choirs showcased traditional performances, with members ranging from as young as eight to as seasoned as 60.
The Kearsney boys were intrigued by the diversity of other choirs’ performances, with the Ukrainian choir’s rendition leaving a particularly lasting impression.
Kearsney had the honour of being the opening and closing acts of the concert proceedings, testament to
their exceptional talent and dedication.
The judges, typically stoic and reserved, were visibly impressed by the Kearsney boys’ folklore routine and rewarded the choir with a rare standing ovation.
As the boys walked off stage, members of other choirs emerged from their dressing rooms to salute them – a moment of camaraderie and mutual respect underscoring the day’s achievements.
The Spanish festival included performances in churches, concert halls and marketplaces of Barcelona
and the seaside resort Lloret-de-Mar.
One of the tour highlights was the opportunity to perform in the famous Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. It remains the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world, with construction having started in 1882.
Over the course of two weeks, Kearsney’s choir toured Europe, playing to capacity venues in Germany, before finishing on a high note with their success in the Barcelona competition.
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