MOSSELBAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Harmony Voices Choir once again did their home town proud after claiming accolades at a choral competition in Cape Town this weekend. 

The choir participated in the Western Cape Choral Music Association (WCCMA) competition at Artscape and returned home with a first and second prize for their Western and African pieces respectively. 

The choir competed in the development category, and claimed an overall second place.

Several acclaimed choirs from all over the Western Province participated in the competition and in their category, the Harmony Voices were up against five Cape Town-based choirs.

The Harmony Voices, a regular feature at town festivals, currently consists of 40 members - 15 of them from Plettenberg Bay.

Under the baton of Athinkosi Goniwe, who has been their conductor for the past four years, they performed in the opening concert of the Dias Festival this year and in the classical component of the festival, at the Dias Museum, alongside the acclaimed cast from the University of Cape Town, who performed Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio.

The Harmony Voices' most recent public performance locally was at the Kwêla Town of the Year celebrations.

"I grew up with this choir. I made them; this is my baby and I am convinced there is no better way to bring young people together," Goniwe says.

He added that the secret of his success with the choir was to plan work on time. 

"To succeed, do not wait until the last minute to prepare your work, especially for competitions. Also, make your choir feel free and comfortable on stage for the best results."

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