La Rochelle Girls’ High School is immensely proud of Madri Gerber (accompanist) and Anmi Slabbert (Grade 8 chorister) who toured the United Kingdom with the Tygerberg Children’s Choir (TCC) from 22 April to 2 May 2023, where they competed in Interkultur’s Hull International Choir Competition.
TCC was the only choir from Africa competing, their aim being to defend their title of fourth best children’s choir in the world, and they did not disappoint.
Gerber is a music teacher at La Rochelle Girls’ High School, teaching learners from Grade 8 to 10.
Under the capable baton of Karina Erasmus this was the choir’s first international tour since 2014, and they were the category winners in the children’s choir division, with a gold medal and a score of 25.50. In the category Sacred Choral Music a cappella they came second with a score of 22.81, earning them their second gold diploma.
Not only was it their first time competing in an unaccompanied category, but they finished only 0.75 points behind the winners in this open division, competing against choirs of all ages.
Prior to the competition they were the guests of the well-known Barnsley Youth Choir, led by Mat Wright, performing in two sold-out concerts.
They also received the unprecedented opportunity to sing in the famous York Minster Cathedral.
This year is the choir’s 50th year, a milestone that will be celebrated on 23 July in the Cape Town City Hall with a mass choir of current and past TCC choir members. La Rochelle is pleased to have two current TCC members (Anmi Slabbert and Madison Harris) as well as two past members (Erin Meyer and Chrisna Fourie), all of whom are members of the school choir, conducted by the multi-talented Gerber.
