Send the
Tuks Camerata
to America!
South African choir needs your support!
The University of Pretoria (Tuks) Camerata has been invited to perform as a Headline Act at the prestigious National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in March 2025. We need support to ensure that every student has the chance to take part in this life-changing opportunity.
The University of Pretoria Camerata, or Tuks Camerata as the choir is affectionately known, celebrated its 56th anniversary in 2024, and has received many national and international accolades through the years. The choirs mission is to contribute towards the cultural development of the student body, enrich the lives of students and the broader community through choral singing, and act as cultural ambassadors of the University of Pretoria. The Camerata is the flagship cultural ensemble at the University, consisting of 78 full-time students from various fields of study, including medicine, engineering, theology, law, education, economics, accounting, plant sciences and music.
The Camerata aims to embark on a short tour of the United States before heading to Dallas for the National Conference of the ACDA, with confirmed performances in New York, Delaware, Washington DC, Springfield (MO), Bentonville and Dallas (TX). The choir will have the opportunity to collaborate and share in cultural exchanges with fantastic choirs, sharing our programme of South African music, both contemporary and traditional. The Camerata will not only perform for thousands of people in the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, but will also present interest sessions to conductors, singers and lovers of choral music.
Over the past three years, the choir has diligently raised over 3 million Rand ($165000) through concerts, corporate events, CD sales and online content, but require a final push to ensure we are able to assist all our students. The choir has several more fundraising performances and initiatives, with this campaign being an integral part of our planning. Every student has to contribute towards the tour as we believe that each singers is capable of raising their own funds.
Committed to inclusivity, the choir operates under the principle of either everyone goes, or nobody goes, reflecting our commitment to unity and solidarity within. The current situation is that the choir cannot afford to make this trip possible for all members. South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world, and Camerata aims to redress this imbalance by giving all our students this life-changing opportunity, despite their financial background.
The Camerata is an award winning choir, having won several prominent international competitions and performing on some of the biggest stages. In July 2017, the Tuks Camerata successfully defended the title won in 2014, when they were declared the winners of the prestigious Grand Prix of Nations for Best Mixed Youth Choir in Riga, Latvia. During the same month, the choir performed at the 11th World Symposium of Choral Music, hosted by the International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM) in Barcelona, Spain. The Camerata regularly shares the stage with prominent musicians and artists, including Katherine Jenkins (UK), Voces8 (UK), Richard Clayderman (France), and has been privileged to collaborate with choirs such as the internationally award winning Barnsley Youth Choir (UK), St Olaf College (USA), Cantus (Norway), Missouri State University Chorale (USA), Texas State University Chorale (USA) and many more. In recent years, the Camerata has released six albums, all to critical acclaim and amassed millions of views of their YouTube channel.
Many members, hailing from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, rely on scholarships, and for most, this tour would mark their first international experience, an opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage. However, financial constraints, compounded by the unfavourable exchange rate of the South African Rand, threaten to dash their dreams. Without your support we will not be able to make this tour happen. Every pledge will help us to achieve our goal of providing this opportunity to all of our students. You can be assured that every penny will be used towards this worthy cause.
We need to raise R450 000 ($25000) in total to make this trip a reality for all our singers. The choristers are actively involved in many fundraising initiatives and as a group, we perform at every opportunity to raise the much needed funds. We are not looking for hand outs, we just need a little help along the way. We hope that this GoGetFunding Campaign will help us reach our goal which will ensure that no student is left behind.
Your support can make a difference! By contributing to our fundraising campaign, you can help cover travel expenses, meals, accommodations, and logistical necessities for the tour. Join us on this incredible journey and be a part of something truly extraordinary. Your support will not only enrich the lives of these talented young musicians but also promote cultural exchange and understanding on a global scale. Donate today and help us ensure that every member of the Tuks Camerata has the opportunity to experience this trip of a lifetime! They are truly deserving of this opportunity.
More information about the University of Pretoria (Tuks) Camerata is available from our Linktree.
Thank you!
