Choral music gives Lüderitz youth a voice

Choral music brings communities together, strengthens young people and provides support during difficult times, says Lüderitz Youth Choir founder and conductor Mario Uiseb (36).

“Creating choral music is not easy. It is, however, something beautiful because it is done in unity and unison. Music and its message carry many people through difficulties in life,” Uiseb, who is employed as a chemist at the Lüderitz State Hospital, said. According to Uiseb, choral music is an important part of Namibian communities, particularly through churches. “The majority of Namibians are Christians who attend church services, and that is where you experience choral music,” he said.

Uiseb believes choral music is once again gaining popularity in Namibia after a period of decline. “Choral music is alive and well in the country. Interest dropped at an alarming rate but has started to rise again in recent years, partly due to the input of the National Theatre of Namibia. These days, we see many active choirs throughout the country,” he said.

A passion nurtured at home - Born in Grootfontein, Uiseb attended Maria Bron St Isidore Primary School, where his passion for music began to take shape.

He credits his mother Eva Uises with nurturing his interest in choral music from an early age. “I did not have access to music schools or top choirs like most conductors. I had access to my mum’s music,” he said. “My mum is my mentor. She taught me to appreciate the beauty of everything that makes up the music I was listening to. I still have good memories of that, and we regularly talk about choral music.”

When Uiseb moved to Lüderitz, he found that the harbour town did not have an active youth choir. He decided to change that by establishing the Lüderitz Youth Choir. Since then, the choir has participated in several competitions and events, including the Old Mutual Choral Competition and two editions of the Blended Voices Choral Competition.

Uiseb also achieved third place with the Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School Choir at the national Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Song Competition grand finale in September 2023, winning N$7,500.

More than waving a baton - For Uiseb, conducting is about much more than standing in front of a choir and directing singers.

“It is not easy being a choir conductor. You need patience and leadership qualities because it is about leading people,” he said. “You are literally mirroring a choir. It is an amazing journey. Music is beautiful and powerful, and you are at the forefront of it.”

Uiseb says his conducting style is still evolving. Competitions provide opportunities to receive feedback from judges and experienced conductors, while exposure to other choirs has also helped him develop. “I am still developing as a conductor. I am learning with time,” he said.

His approach is centred on communication and connection with the choir, while also keeping audiences engaged regardless of the genre being performed.

Building a stronger choir - Managing singers with different levels of experience can be challenging, but Uiseb believes experienced members can help younger singers develop.

“You identify strong characters in your choir and use them to help groom other members,” he said. He believes a balance between experienced and younger singers is important. “Mature singers help the young ones develop and grow with time. It is also important to identify talent and motivate singers.”

Discipline, he says, is equally important. “Like in every aspect of life, discipline is at the core of having a group functioning to maximum capacity and achieving success,” Uiseb said. “When you bring different people from different backgrounds together, the first thing you need to establish is discipline. It starts with self-discipline. Every choir member needs to understand that they need to respect themselves and others in order to grow as a group.” He believes music can also help develop and reinforce discipline.

The challenge of keeping singers together - One of the biggest challenges facing the choir is the availability of its members.

“Other commitments affect the turnout of my choir members, and without them the show cannot go on,” Uiseb said. He said finding time for rehearsals poses a major challenge, while the distance between Luderitz and other parts of the country also limited the choir’s exposure to national events and other choirs.

Despite these challenges, conducting has had a significant impact on Uiseb personally. “It has helped me deal with situations differently than I probably would have when I was younger,” he said. He also recognises the responsibility that comes with leading young people. “I am a public figure because of the choir I conduct, and I am leading a group of young people, so I need to set a positive example.”

Leaving a legacy - Uiseb hopes his work with young people will have a lasting impact.

He wants to influence young people positively and ensure that the work he has done, particularly in Lüderitz, continues after he eventually moves on from choral music.

His own musical ambitions remain high. Uiseb's dream is to conduct the Stellenbosch University Choir for one performance. “They sing beautifully, have set very high standards and continue to lead the way on the choral musical front,” he said. Of course, the hard work is always taking place behind the scenes.”