Drakenberg Boys' Choir 9/19/2011

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SEPT,19, 2011,

 

ALL IS WELL IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND SPRING IS IN FULL SWING AND WE JUST LOVE BEING HERE.

 

THIS WEEK WE, ALONG WITH ELDER AND SISTER WARD WENT TO SEE THE DRAKENBERG BOYS' CHOIR.  THEY ARE ABOUT AN HOURS DRIVE FROM LADYSMITH WITH A STOP AT THE WAFFLE HUT FOR LUNCH.  WE ALSO STOPPED AT THE WEAVERS WHERE THEY STILL WEAVE RUGS BY HAND.  IT WAS A WONDER DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRY TO THE SCHOOL WHERE THE BOYS SING.  THE FACT IS THAT IT IS THE ONLY CHOIR SCHOOL IN AFRICA WHERE YOU HAVE TO AUDITION TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL, THEN YOU HAVE TO PASS 21 TEST TO EARN THE RIGHT TO SING IN THE PREFORMING GROUP.  IT IS AN ALL BOYS SCHOOL AND THEY LIVE AND STAY AT THE SCHOOL.  AGES ARE FROM 9 TO 15 AND THE COST IS R95,000 PER YEAR OR $14,000.  THE SCHOOL IS ALMOST AT THE END OF THE ROAD UP AGAINST THE DRAKENBERG MOUNTAINS AND IT IS BREATH TAKING.  LOTS OF BED AND BREAKFAST PLACES IN THE AREA.  THEY BRING THEM IN BY THE BUS LOAD AND IT IS WELL WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY, $10.  THEY HAVE A STAFF OF TEN IN THE MUSIC AND TEN IN THE ACADEMIC, AND THEY SPEND TWO HOURS A DAY WITH THE MUSIC STAFF.  THEY TRAVEL THROUGH OUT THE WORLD AND JUST RETURNED FROM THE U.S., WHERE ON THE FIRST PART OF JUNE THEY SANG WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR IN THE TABERNACLE.

 

THE PROGRAMME (THAT'S HOW THEY SPELL IT HERE) LASTED TWO HOUR WITH A FIFTEEN MINUTE INTERMISSION IN THE MIDDLE.  THEY HAD FREE MUFFINS AND DRINKS FOR ALL.  THEY HAVE TWO CONDUCTORS AND TWO THAT PLAYED THE PIANO.  THEY WERE SO GOOD I ALMOST FORGOT HOW OLD THEY WERE.  THE LAST HOUR THE HEAD CONDUCTOR JUST SAT AND THE CHOIR WENT FROM ONE NUMBER TO ANOTHER WITHOUT A PAUSE.  THEY PLAYED BONGO DRUMS AND DID AN AFRICAN BOOT DANCE AS PART OF THE PROGRAM.  I JUST CAN'T DO IT JUSTICE SO WILL STOP THERE.

 

OF COURSE ON THE WAY THERE, THERE WERE THINGS TO BUY AND I'LL SEND PICTURES.  THESE BASKETS ARE MADE FROM GRASS JUST COLLECTED OUT OF THE FIELDS AND THE WOMEN SPEND ALL DAY PUTTING THEM TOGETHER, THE BIG ONE TAKES TWO WEEKS TO MAKE. (PICTURE)

 

THE MISSIONARY WORK GOES ON AND WE FILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MISSION WORK, BUT DO TAKE SOME TIME OFF.

 

WE SENT OUR REGARDS,

 

ELDER AND SISTER HUDSON