Maitisong - BIFM / EU Concert

BIFM

Botswana Insurance Fund Management (Bifm) has been involved with the Maitisong Festival since 2003. This ever-growing relationship has seen a number of budding artists grow from strength to strength. Bifm has been involved in the grooming of upcoming artists because they would like to see them breaking into the international music scene and believe that by putting the local artists on the stage with classical music artists from outside of the country, will give them the confidence and drive to push themselves to greater heights. Bifm has been involved with the arts, theatre, culture and music for many years and the need to get involved with the Maitisong Festival, which is the one of the only local arts festivals came about because it gives local artists a chance for more exposure and grooming. Furthermore Bifm has been an avid supporter of Maitisong for over three years, by assisting with donations to refurbish the hall.

THE EUROPEAN UNION

The EUROPEAN UNION first sponsored the Festival Concert in 1987 on its 30th anniversary. The concert featured the Beethoven 9th Symphony, which is also the European Anthem. In 2007, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, the EU again joined BIFM as co-sponsors and has since then been a regular sponsor alongside BIFM.

The EU, together with the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning, is keen to assist in the development of local musical talent in Botswana by giving them this rare opportunity to perform with an orchestra.

Programme

NASCENCE Andrew Williams

KTM CHOIR,,conducted by LUKA DISHO: Three songs

BIFM Song By Luka Disho, orchestrated by Qinisela Sibisi

Kwa Tshimong By Luka Disho, orchestrated by Qinisela Sibisi

Traditional Medley arranged and orchestrated by Luka Disho

GABORONE MUSIC SOCIETY, conducted by Verity Knight: From GLORIA by Antonin Vivaldi

Gloria

Domine Fili

CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS Camille Saint-Saens

Peter Cartwright (piano)

Mark Spence (piano)

English verses by Alexander McCall Smith

read by Lebogang Motubudi

Setswana verses by Ame Makoba

read by Ame Makoba

Animals by Artshell

Johannesburg Festival Orchestra

conductor, David Slater

INTERVAL

SEDIBENG CHOIR, conducted by Andy Batshogile: From The Nelson Mass by Josef Haydn:

Et Resurexit

Sanctus

THE THREE TSWANA TENORS:

Nwelang/Li Biamo from La Traviata by Guiseppe Verdi

translation into Setswana by Ame Makoba

KAGO REGOENG (baritone)

O Isis and Osiris from The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Mozart

MAIPELO LESETEDI (Mezzo-soprano)

Katisha’s Lament from The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan

BOYCE BATLANG (Tenor):

Celeste Aida: Aida; Verdi

FEEL THE SPIRIT John Rutter

Tshenolo Batshogile (Soprano)

Sedibeng Choir

The Gaborone Music Society

Conductor, David Slater

This is a beautiful collection of American Spirituals arranged and orchestrated for solo soprano, chorus and orchestra by the contemporary British composer, John Rutter.

TSHENOLO BATSHOGILE

Tshenolo started singing Opera and other classical music in 2004. She has sung the leading soprano in The Pirates of Penzance and Mikado. Tshenolo is a popular singer at corporate events. She has studied in France with Francoise Pollet, Lorraine Nubar and at the Conservatoire de Bourg la Rein. She has had master classes with Noelle Barker and Jacques-Greg Belobo.

BOYCE BATLANG

Boyce was a member of the Gaborone Youth Singers and he and two other tenors formed the Three Tswana Tenors. Boyce’s fine tenor voice is also in demand as a solo singer as his repertoire includes the very popular and romantic opera arias. In 2009 he took part in the Voice of Black Opera Competition in the UK and, though not winning, was highly praised by the judges.

MAIPELO LESETEDI

THE THREE TSWANA TENORS

The Three Tswana Tenors, Botswana’s most popular operatic group, are much in demand in concerts and corporate functions. These enthusiastic young men have done a considerable amount to foster the appreciation of operatic music among Batswana

KAGO REGOENG

Kago Regoeng is an ardently growing soloist in his own right having been groomed from secondary school days, through singing at church and as a long term member of KTM Choir. Kago has featured in the ‘Okavango MacBeth’ (A chamber Opera in four Acts) by Alexandra McCall Smith. He is now at the BIFM-EU festival concert for the third time having done bass solos (Choral Fantasy, L. Beethoven and Deh Vieni, Con Giovanni, by Mozart) in 2010 Festival concert. He is remarkably on the rise with his resonant baritone.

SEDIBENG CHOIR

SEDIBENG CHOIR is a 5 year old youth group purposed to singing classical music and African traditional music. Under the directorship of Andy Batshogile, the choir has sung a large repertoire since inception. Some of its works include J. Haydn’s Creation, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and his Choral Symphony, the opera, ‘Pirates of Penzance’, Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ and many others including John Rutter’s ‘Feel the Spirit’, which they are singing for the second time this year. Sedibeng has performed in Stockholm, Upsala, London and Newcastle.

ANDY BATSHOGILE

Andy started off music in primary school and took part in his first musical, Noah’s Flood, directed by David Slater. He sang in school choirs, and became vigorously involved in choral music. He became conductor of the Gaborone Choral Society. He founded the Sedibeng Choir performs a range of works, both African and classical western. Through Sedibeng he has discovered and promoted young singers like Tshenolo Batshogile. He is a composer of choral music and brings to the traditional style a taste of jazz.

GABORONE MUSIC SOCIETY

The Gaborone Music Society goes back to the early days of Botswana’s Independence. Over the years it has performed a remarkable range of choral works from Messiah to African Sanctus; Creation to Feel the Spirit. The society has endeavoured to help the development of choral music in Botswana by linking with local choirs in performances of the standard choral pieces.

VERITY KNIGHT

Verity Knight is the current music director of the Gaborone Music Society. She has degrees in both accounting and music and has for many years experience been an accompanist for the Soweto Songsters, a trombonist and the conductor of Johannesburg City Songsters. She has also been a music teacher, most recently at

Broadhurst Primary School. Although the main thrust of her work has been in accompanying choirs and singers, she is also an accomplished choral conductor.

KTM CHOIR

Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete Choir or KTM Choir is well known for its Tswana repertoire from way back 1993 when it was founded and has over the years proved to be versatile and extraordinary in the music arena. With the aim to develop musical talent in Botswana, KTM continues to sing classical western repertoires, contemporary choral fused with instruments and Opera, exposing its members to a wide platform and training soloists in the process. Participation in the BIFM-EU concerts, corporate functions and others has boosted the choir’s strength among other things. This Choir is the reigning champion of the 2010 President’s Choir competitions.

MARK SPENCE

Mark is currently a student of Prof. Albie van Schalkwyk at the SA College of Music, UCT, where he is in his third year of a BMus Performance degree. His past teachers include Beverley Howman and Prof. Graham Fitch. Mark has excelled at and taken first prizes at numerous eisteddfods and competitions. In 2004, he was awarded a high distinction for his ABRSM Grade 8 piano exam. He made his concerto debut in 2005 at the Cape Town City Hall and at Artscape.. He has received many piano awards at UCT and will make his debut solo recital at the Baxter Concert Hall in May 2011 as part of winning the Lionel Bowman Prize for Beethoven Playing.

PETER CARTWRIGHT

Peter Cartwright was born in Grahamstown, South Africa. He started piano at 7, and completed his BMus degree with distinction at Rhodes University (2007-2010) under Mariel Ilusorio. He is currently studying towards a Masters degree at Wits University with Malcolm Nay and Pauline Nossel. Peter has performed in South Africa, Zimbabwe and the USA and has played with members of the Odeion String Quartet. He has performed at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival as pianist for vocal duo “Shirilaulu”. In August 2010 Peter attended the Tel-Hai International Piano Masterclasses in Israel where he studied with Philip Kawin and Asaf Zohar. He was selected as one of the Investec Rhodes Top 100 Students in the category Arts, Culture and Media.

ANDREW WILLIAMS

‘My interest and scope for performing and composing music has grown exponentially through opportunities presented to me by Maru-a-Pula School, Maitisong and Botswana’s bubbling arts and culture society. Although I began on electronic music, I have recently become increasingly interested in writing classical and contemporary pieces. My first orchestral piece, ‘Orchestral Sketch: Nascence’, performed here tonight, was written in November 2010. ‘Nascence’ is a bright, joyful piece.’

AME MAKOBA

Ame Makoba is from Serowe. Although born into a Kalanga family he has developed a keen interest in Setswana over his 22 years. His love of music was born in church and it was with the KTM Choir under Luka Disho that he really blossomed. His passion for Setswana and English led him to meet David Slater for whom he has made translations. Ame is a public speaker, chorister and poet who exudes confidence: his star continues to rise.