THE Stellenbosch University (SU) Choir won three gold medals at an international choir competition in Russia.
The choir received the highest scores of 92 percent, 94 percent and 98 percent in three categories – the highest score awarded in all 27 categories in the competition.
Made up of 120 students, the choir beat 300 others from 36 countries in the ninth World Biannual Choir Games, said SU spokesman Martin Viljoen.
The choir has also won a special CD contract for the coveted Choirs of the World series as a bonus.
“The choir won first places and gold medals in three categories. In the category for sacred a capella, it received a score of 92 percent; in the category for spirituals, 94 percent; and in the category for contemporary music, 98 percent," said Viljoen.
“This is the highest score awarded in any of the 27 categories in which choirs competed in over the last 10 days.
"With this achievement, the SU Choir keeps its first place on the Interkultur list as best international non-professional choir – a position the choir has been holding since 2012."
Viljoen said this was the biggest choir competition in the world. Interkultur earlier announced that the ninth International Choir Games in 2018 would be in Pretoria.