Director

 

Lionel van Zyl, senior lecturer in voice at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Music School in Port Elizabeth, has  conducted the Eastern Cape Children’s Choir for the past 23 years.

He has a special interest in the repertoire of original choral music for the child’s voice, and continuously strives towards excellence in choral singing.

As conductor of the Eastern Cape Children’s Choir and previous conductor of the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir, his extensive international concert tours took him to almost all the continents. 

In 2000, he was nominated for the Mayor’s Citizen of the Year Award in the category Youth Work and Music. He also received a special award from the ATKV (Afrikaans language and culture society) for his engagement  in the performing arts in Port Elizabeth.

In 2007 he was awarded an Achiever’s Award by the Eastern Cape’s Department of Arts and Culture for his work with the Eastern Cape Children’s choir.

Lionel van Zyl holds a M.Mus in choral conducting.

Conductor (Junior Choir)

Hanlie Young obtains the degree B.Mus.Ed. and the Church Organist Diploma from the University of Stellenbosch (US), as well as an honours degree in Music Education from the University of South Africa (UNISA). She also obtains the Licenciate in Vocal Accompaniment through UNISA and passes duet and trio examinations through Trinity College of London with distinction.

As a student Hanlie acts as accompanist assistant at the US. Currently she acts as accompanist for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) School of Music, the Eastern Cape Children’s Choir and the Eastern Province Youth Choir. In 2006 and 2008 she handles the accompaniment for two operas staged by the NMMU School of Music. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 she accompanies local choirs during television recordings for the SABC.

As a member of the Stellenbosch University Choir, and later also at the EP Youth Choir, Hanlie acts as repetitor. She also directs choirs from the university residences for the annual choir festival for three years. She regularly acts as adjudicator at choir festivals.

Organist - Prof Albert  Troskie

Prof. ALBERT TROSKIE was born in 1942 in Adelaide, South Africa. He studied musicology and organ at the Universities of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Amsterdam and received his Doctor’s degree in Music in 1975 with a thesis on the choral music of Max Reger. Until his retirement in 1998 he was a Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at the University of Port Elizabeth.

He published many articles and books, including the book, Pyporrels in Suid-Afrika (Pipe Organs in South Africa) in 1992 and a book with hymn arrangements for organ and choir in 2003. He released a solo recital CD, Grand Organ, in 2000 as well as other organ and choir CD’s. He played a prominent part as co-editor of the Afrikaans Hymnal, Liedboek van die Kerk (2003). Albert Troskie is active as organist, speaker at conferences, adjudicator, organ building consultant and composer.

Management

The choir is a non-profit organisation and is managed by a committee consisting of elected parents, who are elected annually and serve on a voluntary basis.

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