Old Mutual Choir Fest Draws the Crowds

December 23 - Old Mutual, one of South Africa's largest insurance groups, continuously reaches out to the community by sponsoring events.

One of the most popular events in the year is the Old Mutual National Choir Festival that brings together choirs from all over South Africa to compete against one another.

Three hundred choirs took part in the competition during 2009, beginning with eliminations in each district from March, leading to regional championships and peaking in the national finals that took place last weekend.

Twenty four groups from all over South Africa took part in the finals that were held at the University of Pretoria in Tshwane.

The overall winner of the competition in the standard category was the Clermont Community Choir from KwaZulu-Natal.

The choir took home prize money of R27,000 and a trophy.

Gauteng Choristers won first place in the large category and bagged R30,000.

"We have supported this competition for the past 22 years and invested a significant amount of thought, time and money in the development of arts and culture, not only in the various provinces but nationally and in the Southern Africa region," said the brand manager for Old Mutual South Africa, Joy Khaole.

"The reason for our ongoing support is to develop choral music in Southern Africa and to enrich people's lives through the beautiful music," she added.

Four thousand people turned up to watch the finals.