Twenty gospel choirs flocked to Hosiana Parish to find the best performers in national competition
It took a massive three quarters of a million dollars to find the best gospel choir in Namibia. N$150,000 went into prize money for the three best performers in each of the two categories and the rest, some N$600,000 went to the organisers of the Old Mutual National Gospel Choir Festival.
All that money probably created a little good when the Sion Mass Choir took the honours as the best mature gospel choir and the //Ae //Gams Youth Choir produced the best sound in the youth category. The grand finale was held last weekend at Hosiana Parish in Katutura. Twenty choirs from church congregations across the country came together to give it their best.
Old Mutual Chief Executive, Kosmas Egumbo said the National Gospel Choir Festival “provides a platform for Namibians to celebrate our love for choral music and for the different churches to showcase their talent and passion for singing.”
Each competing choirs had to perform two songs, one prescribed by the adjudicators and one of their own choice.
Describing the importance for the insurer to have a relationship with the faith community, Egumbo commented “this festival is important in fostering the existing relationships with churches, our customers and the broader community we serve. Old Mutual has a long and tested mutually rewarding relationship with the churches in Namibia through various business and empowerment programmes.” The funding for the gospel choir competition came from the Old Mutual Foundation.
In the youth category, the second place went to the choir of St John Apostolic Faith Mission and the third to the Sion Youth Choir.
In the mature category, the Ephesians Parish Choir came second with the Alpha Choir in the third place.
Pictured are the winners of the youth choir category, the //Ae //Gams Youth Choir with their enchanting chorale under the able steermanship of their conductor. The choir received N$40,000 for their winning performance.
