The Gold Reef City Lyric Theatre came alive with song, emotion and celebration as the City of Johannesburg hosted the 9th Annual Joburg Choral Festival on Sunday, 10 May 2026. Hosted under the Community Development Department's Arts, Culture and Heritage Directorate, the festival brought together choirs, soloists and schools from across Gauteng in a celebration of choral excellence, culture and artistic expression.
The festival's highlight was when the JMPD Choir caused the audience to break into a song and dance as it took to the stage. Meadowlands Choir also received recognition as the only Gauteng choir to participate in the Municipalities' Choir Festival in the Eastern Cape.
Soloist Mapaseka Tsotetsi, who is a member of the JMPD Choir, mesmerised the audience with her tunes. Her stage presence received a standing ovation.
All participants, including choirs, soloists and young ones from different schools that were on stage to showcase their choral talent received tokens of appreciation from the Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage as the festival focused on celebrating artistic talent rather than competition. Pupils received high praises as they gave their elders a tough competition.
Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage Vuyisile Mshudulu applauded participants and audiences, especially mothers attending on Mothers' Day, describing them as fortresses that fights to make our community better.
“The city believes in artistic programmes that deliver healing and harmony through music, and we plead with the artist to never abandon this genre and make income out of it for as long as they register their song with collective societies," Mshudulu added.
Another soloist, Delisile Kubheka, captivated audiences, with her opening song telling the story of a daughter seeking revenge after witnessing the brutal killing of her mother. It drew emotional reactions and loud applause from the audience.
The festival concluded on a patriotic note as the JMPD and Meadowlands choirs united to perform the national anthem with powerful energy and pride.
Written by Mpho Lebese
11/05/2026
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City of Johannesburg's Arts, Culture and heritage
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