For the first time in its 64-year history, the
Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus will travel to the African continent. The
four-week sojourn will encompasstraveling and performing in more than
15 major cities throughout South Africa,a country almost twice the size
of Texas.
The choristers will depart on this international concert tour and cultural
exchange onMarch 3 and will return to Tucson on April 3, 2004. The entourage
includes the 32members of the Touring Chorus, Director Julian Ackerley,
Touring accompanistElizabeth Spencer, and nurse/wardrobe manager Jane
Ackerley.
The itinerary includes stops in Johannesburg,
Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Nelspruit, KrugerNational Park, Ermelo, Durban,
Pietermaritzburg, Drakensberg,
Bloemfontein, Kimberley,Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Plettenbergbay,
Oudtshoorn and Cape Town. More than 20major concerts are planned for
the 32 day stay.Many of the tour concerts will be shared with South African
choirs who will be hostingthe Chorus. The initial invitation to travel
to South Africa came from two outstandingchoirs; the Bloemfontein Children’s
Choir and the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. In areciprocal visit to
Tucson in October, the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir performed in aninspiring
combined concert with the Boys Chorus and the UA’s Arizona Choir.
Since the boys will be out of school during the month-long tour, they
will complete anextensive structured study program prior to departure
and a tutorial session uponreturn. In addition, all choristers will participate
in a South African studies programand maintain a daily travel journal.
The significance of this tour is paramount and will create lifelong
memories for the choristers.It will also be an opportunity for the choristers
to share their culture with African audiences,including their unique
brand of music representing the American Southwest.
