Young soprano Yongama Takane captivates audience at SASCE finals.
Yongama Takane with her teacher and choir conductor, Mhlalisi "Hlathi" Mungeka, showing the work they have done in Gauteng.
Image: Supplied
Harry Gwala quartet with their teacher/choir conductor, Mhlalisi "Hlathi" Mungeka in the middle showing off their trophies. From left are Lindokuhle Sifumba, Yongama Takane, Mhalisi Mungeka, Endinako Siyolo, and Someleze Klaas. The quartet secured second place in the 2025 SASCE National Finals in Gauteng.
Image: Supplied
PHIRI CAWE
Teachers and pupils from Harry Gwala Secondary School in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, are celebrating the achievements of their school choir at the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) national finals, held in Randburg, Gauteng.
The competition, hosted by the department of Basic Education, brings together top school choirs and soloists from across the country and promotes unity in diversity, national reconciliation, and social cohesion among pupils.
Choir conductor Mhlalisi Mungeka said the choir returned home with three trophies.
“In the small ensemble category, our school’s quartet came second,” he said.
He said a highlight of the competition was a performance by Grade 11 pupil Yongama Takane, 16, who won first place in the soprano solo category.
“She performed Handel’s aria Torna mi vagheggiar and was also awarded best soloist of the competition,” he said.
Mr Mungeka said Yongama joined the choir in 2022.
“She was in a dance class when I asked her to try out the music class. She joined the choir and showed talent from the start,” he said.
Yongama said her interest in music started soon after registering at the school.
“I found myself in a dance class but teacher Mungeka took me to the music class, where I found choir members practising a song. I immediately fell in love with the sound of music that filled the classroom,” she said.
She said her first solo opportunity came unexpectedly.
“On one of our trips to the national finals, the main soprano soloist had flu and lost her voice. Then teacher Mungeka asked me to take her place. Since then, I haven’t looked back,” she said.
She said her success was the result of hard work by the choir.
“Our choir master is strict, but the lessons he teaches help us grow as musicians and young people,” she said.
Teacher Silumko Mayaba said Yongama's performance earned her top honours in both her category and the overall soloist award.
“She was awarded not only first place in the soprano solo category, but also the best soloist of the competition,” he said.