Drakensberg Boys choir

The Drakensberg Boys choir.

This World renowned choir are neighbors to Wits End Mountain Resort and their auditorium is only a short walk away. The school was founded by the Tuingay family in 1967 with an inaugurial intake of 20 boys.
Many stories abound about the early days, one humourous account is of Ma Tungay, a city dweller, driving a malfunctioning tractor with a large rock strapped to it’s side to counter balance a defective steering. Sadly the early generation have now passed away, but their legacy lives on in the trust that was formed to run the school.
The school today hosts about 120 boys , from the ages of 9 to 15, and students are of differing racial and social backgrounds with the main entry criteria being excellence of voice. The school is situated in the Champagne Valley, Central Deakensberg, an idyllic mountain background for this internationally acclaimed choir. They have performed, by papal request, for 25,000 people at the Vatican City and on their 25 th anniversary received an award as one of the best boys choir’s in the world at the triennial World Boys choir festival in Poland.They have performed to packed audiences throughout the World and within Southern Africa.
The choir performs a wide variety of coral renditions ranging from Bach to Freddy Mercury,with a liberal sprinkling of traditional folk songs from both the African and Afrikaans cultures. .
In 1995 an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 was completed and offers a magnificent venue for the choir and many other performers including other visiting choirs. Guests to the Central Drakensberg can enjoy their weekly Wednesday afternoon concerts, held during term time when the boys are not on tour. The concerts commence at 3.30 pm.The provisional concert dates for 2012 are as follows:-
February 15,22&29.March,7,14 & 21. April 11,18 & 25 May.2,9,16,23 &30. June 6 & 13 July 18 & 25 August 1,8,15,22 & 29 September 5,12 & 26. October 10,17,24 & 31 November 7,14 & 21 December 5.

Their twice yearly music festivals are a treat not to be missed.From 27 to 29 April 2012 they will be holding their Music in the Mountains festival, and from 7 to 9 December 2012 their year end Christmas in the Berg festival. Both festivals feature the boys sometimes accompanied by other performers and various visiting artists.

Why stay at Wits End?

Really close to the mountains with magnificent mountain views.
All weather road to our front gate.
80 hectares of pristine mountain landscape with private nature trails on the property.
Large lake with fly fishing, non power boating and bird watching.
Comfortably appointed chalets with room fans for the hotter months and fire places for the winter evenings, and DSTV (resort channels).
Two rock pools with entertainment LAPA and communal cooking facility (braai, Mongolian braai and pizza oven).
In the heart of the Central Drakensberg close to all the attractions that the Drakensberg has to offer.
Within 5 km of the gate to the uKhahlamba Drakensberg park a World Heritage site.
Within 5 km of several fine restaurants.
Within 5 km of 2 golf courses, Champagne sports being one of the top courses in the country.
Easy access to the Battlefields.