MBABANE — Fresh off their triumph as the official Champion of Champions at the Eswatini Schools Choral Music Competition, Edwaleni High School has secured a major international platform.
The choir has been officially invited by South Africa’s Aquadene Secondary School to perform at the 5th Annual Choral Music Festival, where they will share the stage with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Philharmonic Orchestra on August 1, 2026.
The invitation came after a performance at last month’s national finals held at the UNESWA Sports Emporium.
Nthsikelelo Dlamini, the choir and conductor of Edwaleni High, captured the attention of music directors, including Dr Nkwanyana and Aquadene Secondary School conductor Gijimani Zulu, who extended the invitation.
“They mentioned that they loved the choir and asked if we could come and perform at the competition,” said Dlamini. “We have been preparing tirelessly for the past two weeks since receiving the official invitation via email.” The Eswatini champions are set to depart tomorrow, July 31, ahead of Saturday’s event.
The festival brings together schools from across the KwaZulu-Natal Province, serving as both a competitive arena and a unified artistic voice on social issues.
This year’s thematic focus targets challenges, including gender-based violence (GBV), school dropout rates linked to teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and cultural unity across borders through music.
To meet the significance of the occasion, Edwaleni High Choir has prepared a repertoire combining classical pieces with Swati Choral compositions.
Audiences can look forward to a performance of ‘God of Light’ by Joseph Haydn, presented alongside the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, creating a collaboration between choir and orchestra.
The programme will also showcase works by composer Dominic Gamedze, including ‘Lisekhona Livangeli’ and ‘Kwanele Madoda’, a new addition that audiences will experience straight from the box.
Adding to the musical journey is ‘Kusekhaya La’ by Melisizwe Zwane, a piece that reflects the beauty and spirit of home through song.
This is not the first time Edwaleni High School will perform with an orchestra, as during the recent competition, they performed accompanied by the Mbabane Chamber Orchestra.
