South African Singing and Movement

DATES - 6 Tuesdays 7-9 pm - Sept 8, Sept 22, Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 17 and Dec 1 2026

VENUE -Canadian Memorial United Church - The Great Hall (15th and Burrard)

LEADER - Karla Mundy with help and guidance from Bongani Magatyana

COST - $125 CAD + GST

WHO - This course if for anyone who loves to sing and move! We will be singing music written for SATB choirs and we will mostly be learning by ear. Almost all of the songs will include some movement and it will be taught in a very fun environment.

Join us for an exciting and fun journey into South African choral music and dance. We will gather for 6 evenings in the fall to work on some beautiful and uplifting music and the accompanying movements.

It's hard to explain the depth and power of choral music in South Africa. The country is often referred to as a 'Singing Nation' and the collective singing has been absolutely vital to the important social movements and the anti-apartheid struggle. It is a culture where the joy of and belief in singing runs very deep.

Since 2020, Karla Mundy has co-lead 3 study trips to Cape Town (first with Village Harmony and then with Bongani Music Creations) and has fallen deeply in love with the harmony singing of South Africa. Following our last trip, with about 35 singers from City Soul Choir,

there was so much interest in 'keeping the music going'. The singers were so driven to continue on with the repertoire we had learned from Bongani Magatyana and to learn more!

The idea for this course is that Karla would work closely with Bongani Magatyana in order to teach some of his compositions and the traditional songs that he introduced on the 3 study trips. Bongani and Karla would also be introducing some new material including a composition by Bongani. We would spend this dedicated time working on learning the songs, exploring the language, working on the tone and finessing the movements. There will likely be a performance opportunity at the end of the course.

INSTRUCTORS

KARLA MUNDY - in person

Karla Mundy is a vibrant, soulful and diverse vocalist, pianist, arranger and choir leader. Karla directs two community choirs in Vancouver Rhythm 'n' Roots, and City Soul Choir. She leads harmony singing workshops throughout BC and organizes many singing camps, workshops and singing study trips abroad. Karla is a founding member of the No Sh!t Shirleys, TriVo, Cleia, Plough, Tanglewood Trio and Big Whoop! Karla is passionate about teaching harmony singing, getting the music off the page and digging deep into new musical territory.

In 2014, Karla realized her dream of creating an intensive singer's camp on the West Coast. After years of attending music camps with strong instrumental programs, she was convinced that there was a need and a desire for a retreat focused on singing where students could explore their voices and different styles with a faculty of amazing vocalists. SongRoots Summer Camp was born that summer and 2026 marks the 13th time singers have gathered on Gambier Island for a glorious week of singing exploration, artistic renewal and community celebration.

Karla has lead Singing Study trips with SongRoots to Cuba, Mexico, New Orleans, Ireland, Asheville, France, Italy and has co-lead trips to Corsica, Georgia and South Africa with Village Harmony. More recently, Karla has been co-leading trips to South Africa with Bongani Music Creations and Bongani and Karla have their eyes set on going back in March 2028!

BONGANI MAGATYANA - behind the scenes/resources

BONGANI MAGATYANA is a music director, composer, and theatrical producer. Born in Cape Town in a township called Old Crossroads; his father was a self-taught choir conductor in the Old Apostolic Church (OAC). Magatyana’s father taught him to read and write tonic solfa music notation at a very young age, and he dreamed of becoming a church choir conductor like his father. Today, he conducts a 120-voice OAC choir as well as a male community choir. His folk-inspired choral compositions—popular pieces for South Africa’s major choral competitions—are performed by choirs across South Africa and internationally.

During the height of the AIDS epidemic, Magatyana led an ensemble (Siyaya, based at JL Zwane Centre in Gugulethu) that was dedicated to providing HIV-prevention education through musical productions. He currently serves as an instructor—both at home, and abroad—for the organization Village Harmony, and frequently works as a clinician with university choirs in South Africa and across the United States.

When in Cape Town, Magatyana directs the Khayelitsha Children’s Choir, teaches at the Zolani Centre in Nyanga Township, leads an educational musical theatre company, and continues to compose music in a variety of genres, bringing vibrant performances to communities across the world. Bongani just produced a musical theatre production called Izikhalo Zika Nogqawuse (The musical) which was funded by the National Arts Council and created jobs for more than 40 singers and musicians