FOSAPA Presents
South Africa Sings: A Tour of Eastern Canada by the Polokwane Choral Society
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Biographies

MATLAKALA BOPAPE: DYNAMO CONDUCTOR LEADS POLOKWANE CHORAL SOCIETY TO NEW HEIGHTS

"Succeed against all odds" - Motto of Matlakala Bopape

If anyone knows how to ignite enthusiasm for South African music, it is Matlakala Bopape.

This musical dynamo has been conducting the Polokwane Choral Society since 1986. She has led the choir to top prizes in South African competitions and festivals, and on tours to Europe and North America. Since 1991, she herself has often captured the prize for best conductor. She is also a composer, who created the choir's Tonic Sol Fa number Dinoto.

Matlakala's endless patience, careful attention to vocal technique, and rich repertoire of folk and contemporary South African choral music make her a formidable teacher. These skills and knowledge, coupled with her radiant personality, make her sought after to adjudicate at home and lead workshops abroad. She will conduct choral workshops during FOSAPA's Eastern Canadian tour with the Polokwane Choral Society. Following the tour, she heads to the Village Harmony summer camp in New England, where she will be teaching for her fifth year. She has also given workshops in the U.K. and Italy.

Matlakala Bopape received her training in history and music appreciation from the University of Witwatersrand. While doing her MA studies in African Language and Literature in London, England, she studied voice and choral techniques part-time at the London School of Singing.

Ever since her days in teacher's college, Matlakala has been conducting choirs. As a teacher, she conducted girls' choirs, boys' choirs and mixed ones, and represented the Northern Province nationally on several occasions. In 1979, she also became part of a group that founded the Seshego Choral Society, now known as Polokwane - a community-based group with the aim of nurturing musical talent in the African society. She continued her association with the choir during those early years, while studying full-time at the University of Witwatersrand. In 1986, she took over the choir's reins following the death founder Sefoloko H.H. Ramokgopa, with whom she had co-founded the choir, and whom she assisted.

With Polokwane, she has dedicated herself to drawing out musical excellence by increasing the self-esteem of her choristers.

Beyond her music-making capacities, Matlakala Bopape finds herself involved in many other activities on behalf of the choir and individual members, as well as the music community at large - not the least of which was launching the African Meropa International Choral Festival in 2003, the first such event in Limpopo province, and the first folk-singing festival in South Africa. She fundraises for underprivileged choir members, teaches students in the choir and assists them in their musical studies as needed, and helps with job-seeking skills and placement. She assists schools, churches and other community choirs with music, and encourages conducting skills in others within the choir. She also adjudicates in music competitions in schools and churches.

Polokwane is Matlakala's avocation. She works as regional director for the Technikon SA, now University of South Africa in Limpopo Province. As well, she is involved with rural education, and trains rural women in indigenous jewellery making.

TIMOTHY MABASO: DEDICATED MUSICIAN AND HUMANITARIAN IS POLOKWANE CHORAL SOCIETY'S NARRATOR AND COMPOSER

A multi-talented musician who serves as narrator and composer for the Polokwane Choral Society, Timothy Mabaso is highly respected at home in South Africa and abroad.

Mabaso specializes in vocal and brass instrumental training, and has long been a tenor specialist, singing in national competitions. He also adjudicates in shools competitions - both classical and cultural - through his country.

Mabaso received his musical training at school and through the Royal School of Music in London, England. His studies included composition and conducting courses with the Salvation Army Music School in both South Africa and the U.K. In an effort to revive South Africans' love and respect for their music, he has written traditional songs which are sung by church, school and adult choirs throughout South Africa. The Polokwane Choral Society and other choirs have proudly performed his music around South Africa and abroad. Among those that Polokwane performs are Morabaraba (Traditional South African game) and Thina (Move, It is our turn).

Formally known as Captain Jeqeza Timothy Mabaso, he is a Salvation Army officer who currently serves as Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army in Mid Kwa Zulu Natal. In this role, he is actively involved on many humanitarian fronts. Musically, Mabaso is a tutor in his country's Salvaton Army School of Music and a member of the Territorial Band as well as the Territorial Music Council. He has also been a guest of honour at the Annual Music Festival in Douglas, Isle of Man, U.K., where he appeared with the Salvation Army International Staff Songsters. In addition, he sings in and assists in conducting the Soweto Songsters. In June 2000, he tutored on African cultural music and dance in Chicago.

For further information (media only), contact:

Linda Litwack
416-782-7837
e-mail: lalitwack@rogers.com
or
Audrey Conroy e-mail: fosapa@ns.sympatico.ca visit www.fosapa.ca

N.B. THESE CONTACTS ARE FOR MEDIA ONLY. For all other queries, please call local phone numbers listed on Polokowne's Tour to Canada

Pronunciations
Polokwane - polo-KWAN-ee
Matlakala Bopape - mat-la-KA-la boh-PAP-ay (ay as in say)
Mabaso - mah-BAH-so

May 2004