The choir’s committee announced that it had selected Dr. Frelét de Villiers to be the choir’s pianist, beginning 1 September. Committee spokesperson, Elke de Witt, says in a statement that De Villiers is a distinguished academic who has published in various journals and her expertise in the field will propel the choir into the direction the committee envisioned. 

De Villiers is no stranger to the choir - she was the resident pianist for the choir during their tours to the United Kingdom and Scotland in 2019. Earlier this month, the choir announced that 32-year-old Werner Stander, a Primary School music director at Oranje, was chosen to take over the helm from founder Huibrie Verster as conductor from 1 September. Stander described his appointment as a “lifelong dream”. De Villiers says she and Stander are going to be a formidable team.

In June, Verster, announced virtually that she had decided to retire from her role and disband the renowned children’s choir permanently. In the video, she requested that the name of the choir not be used. The reaction to the disbandment drew an outpouring of support and messages of nostalgia, describing the choir’s impact on the Free State. On Sunday 21 June, choir members, former and present, took part in a drive-by farewell, leaving behind presents and flowers for Verster. One by one vehicles passed by Verster’s Dan Pienaar home thanking her for her dedication and the love she bestowed upon the choir. It was during the farewell that the choir representatives announced its surprising continuance.

De Witt told OFM News: “Verster's retirement as a conductor came at a time when the world around us has changed, new leaders can take the choir's new dream further with guidance and innovations”. The news of the choir’s continuation under the same name but a different leadership has drawn mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the news, others like the choir’s former parent committee member and tour organiser, Magdel Dippenaar, requests that Verster’s wishes that the choir should be disbanded must be respected. She suggests that a new choir with a new name must be established.

OFM News previously reported that Gauteng-based Naledi award-nominated actor, singer and former Bloemfontein Children’s Choir head boy, Lebohang Toko, said he never thought the choir would come to an end. “Memories - lots of memories. But most importantly, love. That is what you taught us, discipline and love”. Toko says he is the man that he is today because of Verster and his time in the choir. “Thank you Juffrou Huibrie, may your new journey be as beautiful as the old one. May you soar and spread your wings even further than you ever had.”

The choir’s last performance was at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast at Divine Restoration Church in Bloemfontein in mid-March. As has already been reported, internationals from Israel, the United States of America (USA), and France, the majority of whom came to the country to attend the church meet, later tested positive for COVID-19 following the declaration of a state of disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa, becoming the first set of positive cases in the Free State.

OFM News