CCNF is an organisation powered by passion. That – and a group of phenomenal ladies working mostly behind the scenes. Seven ladies in the CCNF team run all the admin and marketing stuff, organise all the choral festivals, conductor indabas and any other special events in between. Founder Alta Maré calls this team the Secret Seven.
There was nothing special about the UDUMO Project Choir, except that it seemed impossible two months ago. It would be a first for South Africa. With 6 conductors, 18 individual choirs, 750 singers, 10 uniquely South African choral pieces that were unknown to all conductors and singers, finding a venue with a big enough auditorium for a mass choir, enough breakaway rooms that could fit at least 4 groups of 200 each for the collaboration sessions that stretched over two days, organising food and drinks for all participants for two days, getting a competent crew to help look after all the singers and coordinate their movements – all this with only two months to do it in – the CCNF team pulled it off!
And then 7 October came, and all just fell into place. The Secret Seven arrived first on the scene, and as we were sitting in the coffee room discussing the two days ahead, we started talking about how singing in choirs significantly impacted our own lives. One of the phenomenal women on the CCNF team is industry expert Renette Bouwer. And her story of that morning is the one that stuck with me.
She was speaking about an experience singing a very plain, relatively unknown Christmas song. As her choir was performing it, she had a sudden feeling that came over her – a realisation of sorts – she knew this song was hitting the spot for some mysterious reason. As she was feeling it, she became aware that her choir was suddenly feeding off this energy she was experiencing, and as a result, they performed this song like never before.
As if by a Christmas miracle, the audience jumped up and gave them a standing ovation when the song finished. A repertoire-filler, for some reason that night, became the hit of the show. She is convinced that all the souls in that hall became one that night. And that music is the only thing in this world that can master such an experience: changing a diverse group of people into one person that feels exactly the same for a split moment. And if you have ever been part of a choir, you will know exactly what I am talking about.
Singing in a mass choir is a career highlight for most choristers. Renette pinpointed the whole purpose we had with UDUMO in her little story. We hoped that all these singers would join as one after two days. Not only in their voices but in their souls as well. And as if by a Secret Seven blessing, that was exactly what happened.
The gala concert was a spectacular thing to see. The singers were anything between 6 to 60 years old, and none of them could hide their excitement as they came up the stage for their last ‘hurrah.’ This after a scorching and gruelling two 12-hour days of learning new music, being escorted up and down the corridors of NG Moreleta Kerk, and chased on and off the stage a gazillion times.
As I was getting ready to go home Saturday night, I took a last round to say my goodbyes and thanks, and as I entered the foyer, I could hear groups of people still singing songs. The crew of about thirty youngsters were also singing. No one was ready to let the high in their souls be wasted on being tired. Belonging to something special – there is just nothing in this world like it. The Secret Seven shared their secret with the world for this UDUMO event – It is music. Always has been and always will be. That is harmony for you.
