On Wings Of Song

Cape Town’s Youth Choir plans to conquer New York.

- Sue Barkly

ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, WHEN He was being interviewed for the posi-tion of conductor for the illus-trious Cape Town Youth Choir, Leon Starker was asked by the panel to define success. This was shortly after the choir had won top honours at the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod in Wales. “I told them that, for me, real success would be to sing in Carnegie Hall,” says Starker.

He got the job and, in 2008, the choir did indeed sing at Carnegie Hall in New York, but alongside a few other choirs, not solo.

Real success meant doing their own concert at Carnegie Hall, so about a year ago Starker decided it was time. “I emailed the people at Carnegie Hall and I asked, ‘How do I book Carnegie Hall?’ They told me and I booked it, there and then! Then I had to look for the money to fund it,” says Starker. “Renting the hall is about $15,000.”

The rest is history – and on 3 April, when the celebrated choir steps on to the stage at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall (“I will book the big hall next time,” vows Starker) it will be a dream come true for him and the choir members.

Carnegie Hall, two blocks south of Central Park on Manhattan, is one of the most prestigious concert venues in the world for both classical and popular music. Built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1891, the hall was featured in the recently released delightful movie, Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep.

Tchaikovsky gave his debut concert in America there; legendary singers such as soprano Maria Callas and tenors Caruso and Gigli were amongst the greats who made it famous. Mark Twain delivered his last public lecture there in 1906.