Below are a few toughts and facts concerning this prestegous choir. (Firstly in English and further down in Afrikaans.)

Hier volg 'n Paar gedagtes en feite oor hierdie prestige koor. (Eerstens in Engels en verder aan in Afrikaans)

The Eastrand Children’s Choir is an area choir currently consisting of children mostly from primary schools in the Eastrand namely Boksburg, Benoni, Brakpan, Germiston, Kempton Park, Springs, en even some kids from Alberton and Randburg. Every year schools are invited to send possible candidates to do auditions. Our choir performs in a wide area at concerts, churches, as well as at several choir festivals in different areas. All these performances are aimed at promoting song and music at an early age.

In the past, our choir used to be part of the department of education but then all subsidies were stopped. Parents then decided to continue with the choir but to take responsibility for funding the choir on themselves. It is still a prestigious choir in the Eastrand and most schools give cultural recognition to the children, to the equivalent of provincial colors obtained in sport.

Our senior members normally leave the choir when they get chosen for one of the youth choirs consisting of high school children. In September and October we then have our yearly auditions where children get chosen for our choir to replenish the member count. Children are very strictly chosen, therefore the success of the choir.

The choir has a practice session every Monday night from 17h00 to 20h00 in the church complex of the Sunwardpark NG Congregation in Boksburg.

Every year we organize a camp with the purpose of having the kids together for a weekend to practice new songs. It’s not just all work though because we also organize nice activities to make it enjoyable for the children. The camp is looked forward to by the children in huge anticipation every year. The entire weekend happens under strict supervision of our governing body. (Some of the parents who were chosen)

In June of 2001 our choir toured through Austria. To all who were part of this, it was a wonderful experience which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Another tour of the same nature will be attempted in the near future. Further activities which we organize for the children from time to time include, short tours locally, long weekends and day trips.

At the Eastrand Children’s choir the children always remain the focus. Even though it is a strict and disciplined environment, it is important to us that the children are happy and enjoying themselves. It has to be an enjoyable experience to all of our children because without them this choir can not exist.

Die Oosrandse Kinderkoor is ‘n streekkoor wat meestal bestaan uit laerskool leerlinge vanuit die Oosrand, nl. Boksburg, Benoni, Brakpan, Germiston, Kempton Park, Springs, en selfs enkele kinders uit Alberton en Randburg. Jaarliks word skole genooi om moontlike kandidate te stuur om te kom vir oudisies. Ons koor tree baie wyd op by konserte, kerke asook by verskeie koorfeeste in verskillende streke om sang en musiek te bevorder.

Ons koor was in die verlede deel van die onderwys departement, maar subsidies is gestaak en toe is die koor voortgesit en befonds deur die ouers. Dit bly ‘n prestige koor op die Oosrand en by meeste skole kry kinders kulturele erkenning, gelykstaande aan provinsiale kleure vir sport.

Ons senior lede verlaat gewoonlik die kinderkoor wanneer hulle gekeur word vir een van die Jeugkore vir hoerskool leerlinge. Ons hou dan in September en Oktober ons jaarlikse oudisies om kinders te keur om sodoende die koorgetalle weer aan te vul. Kinders word streng gekeur, vandaar die koor se sukses.

Die koor oefen elke Maandagaand vanaf 17h00 tot 20h00 in die kerkkompleks van NG Gemeente Sunwardpark in Boksburg.

Ons reel elke jaar ‘n kamp met die doel om die kinders vir ‘n naweek bymekaar te he om nuwe liede te oefen. Dit is darm nie slegs oefen nie want ons reel ook lekker aktiwiteite om dit vir die kinders aangenaam te maak. Dit is elke jaar vir die kinders ‘n groot hoogtepunt. Die hele naweek gebeur onder die streng toesig van ons beheerliggaam lede.(Sekere van die ouers wat verkies word)

In Junie 2001 het ons koor deur Oostenryk getoer. Dit was vir almal wat deel was daarvan ‘n wonderlike ondervinding wat hulle die res van hul lewens sal bybly. Daar gaan gepoog word om binnekort weer so ‘n toer van stapel te stuur. Ander aktiwiteite wat van tyd tot tyd vir die kinders gereel word is kort plaaslike toere, lang naweke en dag uitstappies.

Die fokus van die Oosrandse Kinderkoor is altyd die kinders. Al is dit ‘n streng en gedissiplineerde omgewing is dit vir ons belangrik dat die kinders gelukkig is en hulself nog steeds geniet. Dit moet vir elkeen van ons kinders lekker wees want sonder hulle kan hierdie koor nie bestaan nie.