Local choirs honour Swedish conductor with concert
Three local choirs took part in a concert to honour Swedish conductor Johan Holgersson, who was in Seychelles for a two-week visit hosted by the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts.
The Choir of Our Lady, Mahe Chamber Choir and the National Choir presented an hour-long performance last Friday at the National Theatre, Mont Fleuri.
The choirs presented chosen pieces, which included pop, jazz, negro spirituals, contemporary and old classic choir music, and showed off the various skills gained in collective singing.
The concert was the final part of the fortnight long programme, where Mr Holgersson led a number of workshops to teach local conductors new skills and proposed a fresh look at repertoires for the five local choirs.
These included the Choral and Music Society of Seychelles and the National Children’s Choir, who were present for all the prior activities but absent for the concert due to other commitments.
Mr Holgersson had individual rehearsals with the choirs, then with all of them together, after which the concert was a culmination of the exercises.
The event was a chance for the local choirs to show what they had learnt. Mr Holgersson expressed his satisfaction, saying he was impressed with the choirs’ ability to learn quickly and retain what he had to teach them.
As a symbol of friendship and as a gift from his country, Mr Holgersson presented several people present, including event coordinator Jerry Souris, with some world-renowned cheeses.
Source: NATION 3-20-10