The time is now! To amplify the music! Zimbabwe was treated to a feast of music and celebratory song as the second event took place as part of the Old Mutual National Choir festival.

The first of these internationally recognised choral events kicked off in Eswatini on the 4th August 2019.

At the Harare International School in Zimbabwe, eleven choirs with talented singers entertained and impressed the judges, where it was with great pride that the Heavenly Praise Chorus Choir won in the Standard category (30-48 members) and The Chitungwiza Harmony Singers won in the large category (49-60 members), where they also won best conductor and soloist.

The Old Mutual National Choir Festival (NCF) has brought the best of choral music to the continent for 42 consecutive years and Old Mutual is proud to have been its title sponsor since 1988. The event was founded by the late Professor Khabi Mngoma, a renowned music teacher and has grown over the years where this year alone, 106 different choirs entered the competition.

This African choral event, which began as a community project, has attracted such a wide diverse range of talent and skill and all these top performers and choirs will further compete in South Africa in Polokwane, Ethekwini, Cape Town and Johannesburg until October 2019 with an aim to achieve top honours in this prestigious choral event.

All the choirs get to select from a selection of prescribed music that has come from the last 41 years of music that NCF has showcased. These songs are either accompanied or unaccompanied.

"The Old Mutual National Choir Festival is something we look forward to each year. It is such a powerful demonstration of the power of partnerships that are working together to achieve a common goal. The partnership between Old Mutual and the NCF is based on the same philosophy Old Mutual has which is that we "Strive to enable people become their exceptional best". By providing a stage that builds confidence, opens opportunities and offers people new personal heights to scale we are enabling positive futures and we are also encouraging community support and spirit and an appreciation for talent and music. We are proud to play a role in the choral music industry which promotes the development of music, music literacy, and a chance for people who are passionate and committed to music to thrill and entertain a receptive inspired audience", says Lillian Mbayiwa, Group Marketing Executive, Old Mutual Zimbabwe.

"We aim to be an integral and important part of the exciting and diverse musical fibre of Africa. It is an environment where we can share our knowledge and wisdom through a platform that touches people's lives, their dreams and future goals. Nothing embodies this more than the incredible energy that each choir member brings to every NCF performance. Add the meticulous mastery of the conductors, audiences that cheer the choirs to victory, and it is obvious that now is the time to hit the high notes. "Mbayiwa concluded.

For all the latest updates and choir information, follow the Old Mutual National Choir Festival Facebook page.