Schools clash in Nash Choral Music Competition finals

Chronicle Reporters
A TOTAL of 22 schools will today battle it out at the Amphitheatre for the Nash National Choral Music Competition finals that is sponsored by the Joshua Nkomo Foundation.
The competition that has been running throughout the year is sponsored to the tune of $15,000.
The winner will walk away with a floating trophy and $500 and the second will get $450 while the third prize is $400.

Bulawayo province is represented by Mpopoma, Luvuve and Pumula High Schools.
Mtshabezi and Matopo High Schools will represent Matabeleland South. Mtshabezi High from Gwanda North shrugged of stiff competition to come out first for the second time in a row after scoring 259 points under the set piece category, beating 13 other schools from different districts.

Matopo High from Matobo District was also a force to reckon as they took second position with 235 points.
In third place was Solusi Adventist High School from Bulilima District with 230 points.

During the provincial competitions schools had to sing two songs, a set piece called Joshua that was composed by Busani Nkomo and one of their own choice. The competition requires all choirs to have 60 choristers.

At the national finals the same format will be followed.
Speaking during a launch ceremony held at a local hotel on Thursday evening, Nash President Johnson Madhuku said the competition was inline with their mandate to teach pupils about the history of Zimbabwe.

“Father Zimbabwe was a great man and this competition is celebrating him. Through singing the set piece, Joshua, pupils now can appreciate Ndebele as a language and the legacy of Joshua Nkomo,” he said.

Madhuku who has a passion for choral music, said he expected fireworks at the national finals.
Meanwhile, Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director, Tumisang Thabela said schools should make arts a mainstream subject in their curriculum after two districts failed to send representatives to the provincial competitions.

These are Beitbridge and Umzingwane.
She said it had been noted that several schools within the province were not taking arts subjects seriously.

“We are just coming from a curriculum review meeting in Harare where it was emphasised that schools should mainstream arts and culture. An assessment will be carried out in all schools to ensure that they follow this directive,” said Thabela.

She said the school environment was supposed to develop pupils in all aspects.
“The ministry expects schools to give pupils various options. Schools should not prioritise the academic side of learning but should promote arts and culture as well.

“Schools that are not yet doing this are short-changing pupils and should be held accountable,” she said.
Thabela said schools had an important role to play in preserving the nation’s culture.