Conductor: Johan de Villiers
About Johan de Villiers John De Villiers is a full-time professor of Mathematics at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. During his eight-year tenure as conductor of the Stellenbosch University Choir (1977-1984), he undertook extensive overseas concert tours to England, Austria, Germany and Israel. Johan researched choral training and conducting techniques at Northwestern University in Evanston, USA and studied choral conducting under Lorna de Varon at the New England Conservatory of music in Boston and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, under Robert Fountain. Johan founded the Libertas Choir in 1989 to engender a new spirit of trust in a country with historically divided communities. For his contribution he received a merit award for outstanding cultural service from the Western Cape Government. Stellenbosch Libertas Choir The Libertas Choir was founded in January 1989, well before the advent of the "New South Africa" - a time in the history of South Africa when multi-racial groupings were still frowned upon. The organization, "Women for South Africa", approached Johan de Villiers with the request to form a choir which would, through music, foster peace, goodwill and reconciliation across racial and cultural divides. The Libertas Choir is richly textured - its members come from widely contrasting backgrounds, speak a variety of languages and represent a kaleidoscope of the many cultures and communities that make up South African society. Its repertoire reflects this diversity and ranges from major choral works, such as the great oratorios and requiems, to indigenous African folk music. The choir is a keen supporter of new material and introduces the audience to new works and indigenous music for which no scores exist. An example of such a new works and indigenous music for which no scores exist. An example of such a new work in the present program is "The Road to Jerusalem" - a medley arrangement of indigenous church music which is performed true to its original style. The Libertas Choir has come to be regarded as embodiment of the "Rainbow Nation in Harmony." Selection of choir members is not done merely on the basis of formal musical training, but also takes into account natural musicality - a large number of the members cannot read music. Participation in the Choir exposes members to unique educational opportunities and widens cultural horizons.
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