Strathmore University Chorale conducted by Mr. Albert Apela starts its concert tour of South Africa in Pretoria on 23^rd April 2014.  The award winning choir will also perform in Johannesburg and at the annual Ovuwa cultural concert.  This will be the choir’s third concert tour of South Africa. This year’s concert tour coincides with South Africa’s 20 anniversary of the first democratic election where the late Nelson Mandela was elected the country’s first black president.  To commemorate the momentous event, the chorale will hold a joint concert with the University of Pretoria’s TUKS Camerata on 24^th April at the Musaion hall, this is a tour highlight concert to be graced by amongst others, Kenya’s diplomatic mission to South Africa.

The choristers will have three concerts in Pretoria including one at the Chancery of the Kenya High Commission in South Africa. “ I am glad to be hosting Strathmore Chorale again, the choir has been very good cultural ambassadors of Kenya here in South Africa over the years ” said Kenya’s Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Hellen Gichuhi to South Africa as she invited the choir to a reception at the Chancery.  

 

The choir will begin the second leg of its tour with a concert in Johannesburg where they will perform in the Auditorium of the University of Johannesburg in a joint concert with the university’s Kingsway Choir and at the world famous Regina Mundi in Soweto.

 

The choristers have two albums to their credit, e polo (2009) and Coming Home (2012), both albums features a mixture of Kenyan choral music celebrating the country’s ethnic diversity. The albums are available at the choir offices in the student centre 3^rd floor.

 

About the conductor- Mr. Apela

He holds a degree in Music from Leeds University, UK. He also holds Grade 8 ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal School of Music) and Licentiate of the Royal School of Music.

He also works as an engineer at Cadbury’s Kenya Ltd ( Kraft Foods).

Currently in his 26^th year in professional music, Apela has been a conductor and director of many top choirs in Kenya notably:

• 1989 to 1993 – Choir Director and conductor, Coffee Board of Kenya choir.
• 1996 to 1999 – Choir conductor, Kenya Polytechnic
• 2000 to 2004 – Choir Director and Conductor, Ministry of Finance.
• 2005 to 2006 – Choir conductor, St. Mary’s choir, Nairobi.
• 2006 to date – Choir conductor, Strathmore University

 

Mr. Apela has won many awards at Kenya national music competitions with the above choirs that he has conducted notably in 1999 when his choir- The Kenya Polytechnic won all choral music awards at the Kenya Music Festival (University and Colleges category) and in 2009 with Strathmore Chorale he won all choral music awards at the Kenya Music Festival (University and Colleges category).

Apela’s works are mostly of African Folk and Sacred genre.

As a singer Mr. Apela has also won best Solo Bass award at the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 Kenya Music Festivals. As a conductor and as a singer Apela has toured many countries in Eastern Central Africa and parts of Europe, he has produced two albums with Strathmore Chorale; e polo and Coming Home.

 

 

 Violin Player, Enuice Wanjiku

A short choir CV

The Music Club of Strathmore University started as a combined university choir consisting of both university staff and students on 11^th January1997. The Music club consists of the Choir , Strathmore Chorale and the Safari Band.

 

The chorale made its first international tour in 1999 in Mwanza, Tanzania where we performed and also participated in The Annual regional choir symposium.

 

The choir’s first conductor was the experienced Mr. Silverse Anami, then Director Culture and heritage in the Ministry of Culture and National heritage.

 

In 2002 under the guidance of Mr. Anami the choir made its second international tour as a guest choir at the Canonization of St Josemaria Escriva in Rome, Italy. It performed in several venues across the city of Rome the climax of the tour was a Harambee Concert that was held in the Vatican.

 

In April 2008 Strathmore Chorale did a concert tour of South Africa where they performed in University of Johannesburg and also at the Centenary celebrations of University of Pretoria.

 

In April 2009 the Chorale did their second concert tour of South Africa, they performed in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria where they launched their premier album; e polo.

 

In May 2011 the Chorale went on a concert tour or Rwanda where they performed in Kigali and Butare cities.

In the Octobers of 2010 and 2011 the choir was invited to perform at the prestigious Safaricom Classical Fusion alongside world renowned groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

 

In March 2012 the chorale launched their second album, Coming Home  on the occasion of our 15^th anniversary.

 

The choir has hosted several choirs with whom they have done music concerts in Kenya.

 

The choir has performed at several concerts in Kenya and participated in many national music festivals, where in 2009 they emerged overall winners in University category.

 

Under the guidance of Mr. Albert Apela the Conductor the choristers have developed a rich repertoire of music that has made them be ranked amongst the best choirs in Kenya.