In the last week of the 2nd term of 2006 the Hilton College Tour Choir travelled to Johannesburg and Mpumalanga for a celebration of music in that region of South Africa. The Tour Choir had previously travelled to the Western Cape in 2005 where they were very successful.
The tour group departed from Hilton College at 6:00 on Sunday 18th June in a Maharaj bus headed for Durban International Airport. From there, they flew to Johannesburg and were thrown into action immediately for a concert held at the Sandton Art Centre later that afternoon.
The luxury bus trip was a blessing for all and many of us were fast asleep within minutes. Upon arriving at the Sandton Art Centre everything ran smoothly and the equipment was unpacked and set up very quickly (thanks to Mr. Dippenaar’s perfect planning). After a short rehearsal, everyone went to the Sandton City Shopping Centre for a bite to eat. According to Mr. Dippenaar, that night’s concert was probably the most important one because it was that impression that was going to last for the rest of the tour.
The concert that was very well done; which was a relief considering that Mr. Nicholson (our Headmaster) and Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson (the Chairman of the Board of Governors) were attending.
After Sandton we were back on the bus for another hour until we reached the train station where we would meet our escorts and take the trip to Komatipoort. I have to say that I have never been on a train (in South Africa) before and this was truly an experience worth remembering. The train carriages were apparently first class and even included a shower facility (one per carriage), however, South Africa’s first class is clearly far from what we know as first class. The compartments slept four people each and the shower had no hot water, not even a drop. We boarded the train on the Sunday evening and were scheduled to arrive in Komatipoort at 6:00 the next morning. The dressing gowns (with a Hilton College Tour Choir logo embroidered on it) that we had all received earlier were very useful, especially for that really cold shower!
As scheduled, the train arrived in Komatipoort at 6:00 on the Monday morning and after a cup of hot coffee we all thanked God that we had arrived safely. From Komatipoort, Mr. Dippenaar’s well-planned route contained a detour through the Kruger National Park as well as a concert for the Skukuza Junior Primary School. For many people, in the choir, the trip through the Kruger National Park was a first and I am sure they were pleasantly surprised by the variety of game they spotted just from an hours drive through the game reserve.
Our concert at Skukuza Junior Primary School was greatly appreciated and we were given hot soup and bread for lunch, courtesy of the hosts. We also experienced one of the highlights of our trip at the school when Wesley Chi was asked, by one of the pupils, to “show us what Jackie Chan does please” and he kindly obliged. This memory will definitely be imprinted on the minds of those that witnessed it.
That night was spent at the Tshukudu Game Lodge near Hoedspruit where we roughed it out in our sleeping bags in huts with a hot water shower!
The next morning was another highlight of our trip when awoke to the sounds of nature and spent the morning trekking through with a baby lion running by our side. After a “full English breakfast” the bus was packed and we were off to Drakensberg Primary School where we performed a demo.
After the refreshments at Drakensberg Primary School we were back on the bus and were treated to two of South Africa’s truly beautiful landmarks, namely Bourke’s Luck Potholes and The Three Rondawels. Here we were privileged with good weather so the view was spectacular.
Lunch was served in Graskop at Harry’s Pancakes where we were presented with two very large pancakes; one savoury mince and one filled with ice-cream. In the mind of a Hilton boy, lunch has never been better…
After the very satisfying lunch some of us experienced the exhilaration of free falling down a 120m gorge and swinging to a stop. I speak from personal experience when I say that you really see your life flash before your eyes. However, even though it was the most terrifying I have ever done, I can safely say that I was totally worth it.
Tuesday night was spent in a wonderful place called “Ons Plek”. The accommodation was very cosy and we were warned to sleep very well and recover due to the very business program for Wednesday.
Wednesday’s program with breakfast at “Ons Plek” followed by two demos; one at Numbi Primary School and another at Graskop Primary School. Also on the program was a concert at the prestigious Jatinga Lodge near White River. Just before the concert we were presented with a very hearty meal which even involved the waiters asking the typical question, “chicken or beef?”. The concert was a great success and was also very well attended (there were even a few Hilton College families watching the concert). That night was spent in White River with hosts that lived in the surrounding areas.
Thursday’s performances were more along the lines of marketing for the school and included visiting schools such as Penryn Preparatory School (the Mpumalangan equivalent of Hilton College or Michaelhouse) and Kings School. From there we were back on the bus for the trip back to Gauteng where we did our last concert (with the biggest audience) in the Dutch Reformed Church in Wierdapark in Pretoria.
Friday morning was probably new to most Hilton College boys when we had to wake due to the fact that we were awoken at some unearthly hour in order to reach the airport on time.
The flight back marked the end of a very successful choir tour that will be remembered by everyone. And thanks to the flawless planning of Mr. Dippenaar, there were no emergencies and everything ran very smoothly.