ICOM

Hlanganani!

2012

Unity Tour

Meet the 2012 Honors Chorus of South Africa Clement Baloyi

Baritone

Tifuxeni High School

Clement has been singing since age 6, starting in church. His best academic areas are biology and life sciences and he enjoys exploring nature. Clement is planning to study biochemistry and become an opera singer. His parents believe he should have more than one career option. Clement was elected president of the Learners Resource Council in February 2011 (President of the Student Body).

Prudancy Thulisile Dube

Soprano

Botsebotse High School

Prudancy is the middle of three girls and has one brother. Her mom, a teacher, and dad, a debt collector, create a normal balanced life for her. She excels in life and physical sciences and in English. Her heart is to learn. Prudancy plans to study forensic science.

Lucas Lejoni Khala

Bass

Soshanguve High School

Lucas has been singing for only 4 years, starting in middle school. He has two younger brothers, age 6 and 9 and lives with his mom, a teacher, and dad, a policeman. He enjoys studying history and geography. Long term, he will continue his study of music but plans to join the military.

Nokuthula “Thuli “ Langa

Soprano

Botsebotse High School

Thuli is a returning chorister from the 2010 Honors Chorus. She has an older brother and is one of five girls to parents who are both preachers. Her older sister is a mezzo soprano just like Thuli. From the 2010 tour, she found the people to be loving and caring. She plans to study medicine / pharmacology.

Lazarus Matsheke Maake

Baritone

Soshanguve High School

Lazarus loves to talk. He is the baby of five boys, all of whom finished high school. Although his mom in unemployed, she is very committed to this opportunity for him. He discovered his musical ability just 4 years ago and saw that music “was taking people somewhere”. He plans to focus his studies in the area of logistics.

Hlanganani!

2012

Unity Tour

Meet the 2012 Honors Chorus of South Africa Tsholofelo Masango

Soprano

Soshanguve High School

Tsholofelo is the sister of 2008 and 2010 chorister Thabang Masango. Her mother is shocked that both a son and daughter were selected for the choir. Her favorite subject is economics and she does well in Accounting. She plans to study Business with a goal of becoming a Real Estate Broker.

Tsholofelo Masemola

Soprano

Tipfuxeni High School

Tsholofelo is her mother’s only child. Their household includes a cousin who is a brother to her. She sings in both the church choir and the school choir. She has participated in the school competitions, feeling the pressure of giving your best in your performance. She plans to pursue her music and fashion design.

Neo Innocentia Masetla

Tenor

Klipat High School

Neo lived with his grandmother until 2009 when she passed away. This young tenor now lives in his grandmother’s home with a foster parent. Klipat is far from his home where his brother and two sisters live. Life science is his favorite subject. Neo wants to become a pharmacist and run his own pharmacy. Neo participated in the competitions the first time in 2010. In 2011, he finished in 1st position in the Provincial competition.

Duduzile Daphney Mokwena

Alto

Soshanguve High School

Duduzile lives with her grandmother, cousins and aunts. Her family is very excited for her to have this experience and to learn more about music. Her favorite subjects are Math and Economics, both of which will prepare her for college where she will study Marketing and Business, on her way to being a Certified Financial Planner.

Sibusiso Monguni

Tenor

Soshanguve High Graduate

Sibusiso completed matric in 2008 and has continued his studies at Tshwane North College, working toward a certificate in Human Resources management. He is currently training in Human Resources Administration with his goal to work in a large South African company.

He continues to use his gift to sing opera.

Meet the 2012 Honors Chorus of South Africa

Hlanganani!

2012 Nthabiseng Ciliah Ramosepele

Alto

Unity Tour Holy Trinity High School

Nthabiseng lives with her mother who is her motivation. She motivates her to do everything excellently. She enjoys listening to music, dancing and drawing. She plans to study International Economics. She hopes to learn more about our economy and plans to live in Japan to understand more about their economic system.

Mamalema Frans Ramoshaba Baritone

Soshanguve High School

Mamalema is the youngest child in his family. His mom, stepdad and older brother and sister are happy about his coming to the USA. His focus is on his schoolwork with History, Geography and Life Sciences all listed as favorite subjects. He has been singing since 2009 in his school’s competition choir. He plans to become a gynecologist.

Karabo Leah Raphela

Soprano

Botse Botse High Graduate

Karabo is a natural entertainer. She loves ballroom dancing and completed her matric in December 2011. She plans to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. She is a returning member of the 2010 Honors Chorus.

Lufono Muriel Sadiki

Alto

Holy Trinity High School

Muriel lives with her mother and older brother and sister. She has been singing since age 10, singing in both church and school. Muriel wants to experience the history and culture of America and how we differ. She plans to become a travel agent or magistrate.

Mphake Anthony Sebei

Tenor

Mabande High Graduate

Anthony always loved to sing. He has received top honors since primary school. His family of two boys and three girls has been brought up in a Christian home. He won the choir competition in 2010, placing 1st . From this tour, he hopes to improve his life and get exposure to professionals in Mechanical Engineering, his chosen career.

Meet the 2012 Honors Chorus of South Africa

Hlanganani!

2012 Aobakwe Gwendeline Sehoole Soprano

Unity Tour Sikhululekile High School

Aobakwe is the second of three girls in her family. She had to beg her dad, a mechanical engineer, to allow her to be a part of this choir. She first sang in a choir in 2008 but left the choir because of late rehearsals. She began singing competitively in 2009 with success as a soloist and with her school quartet. In 2010, she began singing opera. She plans to study theatrical opera and is beginning to study music theory and piano.

Frans Tshepiso Seleka

Baritone

Mabothe High Graduate

Frans is a twin and one of eight children in his family. Frans has been focused on classical music since 2008. While he has a brother and sister who attended college, he still desires to continue his education to become a paramedic. His favorite high school subjects were geography, biology and mathematics.

Belinda Dipuo Seopa

Soprano

Botsebotse High School

Belinda is the baby of eight girls in her family. She loves to sing and dance. She has been singing since age 10. She is currently in the school choir, likes opera and hip hop for dancing. Belinda enjoys geography and history and plans to turn that interest into a career in International Tourism, hoping to work for Tour Africa.

Fabasane Anita Skosana

Alto

Soshanguve High School

Anita is her mother’s last child. Her family supports her in everything. For Anita, schoolwork is her first priority, music is her second. She has a special interest in cultural dance. Her abilities in life sciences and geography will hopefully help her live her dream career as a geologist.

Penelope Zanelle Tlouamma

Alto

Soshanguve High School

Zanelle describes herself as always happy. She loves to read and is outgoing. Her parents are happy when she’s singing. Her family is excited about her opportunity to come to the U.S. so that they can have the experience through her. Zanelle plans to become a Veterinarian while continuing to sing gospel and R & B.

Meet the 2012 Honors Chorus of South Africa

Hlanganani!

2012 Phillimon Tshabala

Unity Tour

Tenor

Modilathi High School

Phillimon is the only boy at home. He has been singing for only four years at school. He describes himself as respectful of the elders and is protective of the things he gets. His desire is to learn more about our culture, music and what it takes to achieve in life. His goal is to get a scholarship so that he can pursue Sound Engineering.

Mohau Mogale

Principal Conductor

An educator at Soshanguve High School, Mohau is leading the Honors Chorus for the third time. His continued success as both a music teacher and choir director has earned him the respect of his peers as his choirs continually win the National competitions. He has added to his repertoire the Bagale Chorus which he also directs and has led to success in S. Africa.

Raisibe Richard Makwea

Accompanist

Hailing from Limpopo Province, Richard began playing the piano at age 13. Introduced to the genre of choral and opera music in 1999 and is well on his way to perfecting his craft with this type of music. His accolades include performing in the UNISA classical piano competition, earning two silver medals in baroque and classical and bronze in contemporary music. He is the accompanist to over 20 choral and opera ensembles and choirs in S. Africa.

Margareta Thabea Noge

Wardrobe

Principal

Margareta is a primary school principal who loves music. She serves as the Secretary of the provinces South African, is a School Choral Istddfod (formerly Tirisano competitions) and has held this position since 2000. She has three grown children and is grandmother of a 2 year old.

Freddy Ivanhoe Shilenge

Administration

Retired Educator

After 46 years, Mr. Shilenge retired from a successful career as a teacher, conductor of his school choir and department chair in Kgomotso High School. A veteran of the 2008 and 2010 choirs, Mr. Shilenge earned the respect of the choir and the committee as a capable administrator who maintained strict discipline over all documents. He is also a student of music, history and geography, bringing that expertise to the Honors Chorus program.

Penelope Zanelle Tlouamma

Alto

Soshanguve High School

Zanelle describes herself as always happy. She loves to read and is outgoing. Her parents are happy when she’s singing. Her family is excited about her opportunity to come to the US so that they can have the experience through her. Zanelle plans to become a Veterinarian while continuing to sing gospel and R & B.