15 UJ Choir The first call for auditions attracted expression of interest from 301 students; 198 of these were invited to the next phase of in-person auditions; of this number 139 students completed the second phase, resulting in the selection of 62 new prospective choristers. Of the choristers from 2023, 54 remained in the Choir, bringing the preliminary Choir to 116 choristers. After two development camps that form part of the final audition process, the final number in UJ Choir 2024 was 82. In addition to performances at 18 graduation ceremonies, UJ Choir presented a robust concert programme in 2024 attended by approximately 6 000 audience members and marking the Choir’s 50th anniversary. Additionally, UJ Choir hosted Barnsley Youth Choir from England on 28 October at Bunting Theatre for a joint rehearsal and networking engagement. In 2024, UJ Choir also undertook four music recording sessions (three at the Fontainebleau Community Church, and one at UJ Arts Centre) and released three albums in 2024, Echoes of Heritage, The New Covenant, and The Bridge Builder. Student Excursions The (R)evolution of Words student cast of eight and one professional actor travelled to Durban for Poetry Africa, presented by UKZN on the 10th of October 2024. They performed twice on the 11th of October. The first performance was a community outreach initiative at Luthuli House for high school students, and the second performance was at Seabrooks Theatre for the general Poetry Africa International Festival audience. The production was well received with positive feedback for both performances. During the outreach project students interacted with high school learners from various schools in rural KZN; following their show they had a question-and-answer session with the learners and stayed to watch the shows presented by the learners at Luthuli House. In addition to the performances, the UJ students’ itinerary included watching various shows at the Festival, participating in slams with other poets, attending several facilitated discussions, and networking at the Festival. Conclusion Beyond contributing to student life in a myriad ways, the Division of UJ Arts & Culture makes further contributions. The annual FADA Interdisciplinary Theatre Programme challenges second-year students from across the Faculty of Art Design, and Architecture (FADA) to design and build models for elements of a play that the Division produces with a professional cast. The 2024 programme involved 325 students who were divided into 21 groups comprising students from different departments, facilitating the transfer of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. The Division also contributes to the employability of current students and alumni, and in 2024 a total of 37 interns were hosted by 14 external professional arts and culture organisations as well as by other departments and divisions of UJ. The Art Centre’s Front of House team also contributes to employability, with 42 UJ students working as cashiers and ushers at the Centre during events.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU1NDYx