PUK Arts
Arts Societies: Performing Groups
The Boulevard Harmonists
This group is a select six-voice (3 men, 3 ladies) a capella singing ensemble that does challenging music in programmes of high quality. Their programme mainly consists of classical music, but more popular music and folk music are also included. The group performs regularly, mostly at arts festivals, and they often tour overseas. For enquiries contact Peet Ryke (018 299 2849).
Buzzin' Brass Ensemble
An alternative home for instrumentalists - especially wind instrumentalists! A union of mostly woodwind and brass instruments (but also strings & percussion!) with music for any occasion. Jazz, classical, blues, music from the movies - they play anything! Performances include arts festivals, street markets, formal appearances, beerfests, etc. (Chairman: Michael Els (084 920 9000).
Disfunctional Beat (dance group)
Disfunctional Beat presents a variety of dances, from ballet, freestyle, hip-hop to break dancing. It is open to ladies as well as men and is a very dynamic arts activity at the NWU-PUK Campus. They perform, amongst others, at O&B, Tarentaal, Talent Festival, the First Year's Concert, and many more. (Chairperson: Zanli de Jager: 083 267 4436).
Divaco (Cape culture)
Divaco was founded in 2004. It is a cultural society that celebrates the Cape culture and way of life in a way that is typical to the Cape. It includes theatre, dancing and music. (Chairman: Edgar Joseas: 072 566 9263).
PUK CHOIR
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PUK Serenaders
The NWU-PUK Serenaders is a mainly traditional choir of the PUK founded in 1994, focussing on African music. The PUK Serenaders is especially renowned for its unique interpretation of traditional African and South African music.
This choir has performed in several music competitions and concerts as well as various other events, amongst others at the Old Mutual/Telkom International Eisteddfod of South Africa, Satica, Provincial Heritage Day celebrations, Freedom Day celebrations, Contralesa and the Executive Mayor of Potchefstroom's annual Goodwill Concert. They have repeatedly won provincial and natrional competitions.
In 1997 the PUK Serenaders helped to prepare a successful workshop on Afrikaans music in collaboration with the North-West Children's Choir. The workshop was presented under the direction of Prof Mary Coetzee of the Indiana University in the USA, former Puk Rudolf de Beer (conductor of the Drakensberg Boys Choir) and former Puk Derrick Pule. In collaboration with the Indiana University in the USA, they recorded a CD with the aim to introduce traditional African and South African music to the Western countries.
In 1999 they reached the final of the ATKV choir competition in Pietermaritzburg and a year later they took third place in the same competition held at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The choir also participated in the ISME world conference at the State Theatre in Pretoria, and in 1999 they undertook a concert tour to Lesotho. In 2004 they visited Rostock in Germany where they were greeted with standing ovations.
Enquiries
For more information contact Horst Bütow at (018) 299-2843.
PUK Symphony orchestra
Our own full-fledged symphony orchestra. As a society it is unique in the sense that it is an "open" society, in other words, any member of the public who passes the compulsory audition may join the orchestra. The orchestra usually performs two to three big symphony concerts per year. There is no permanent conductor - they make use of invited professional guest conductors. The artistic director and semi-resident conductor is Colin Campbell, of the NWU-PUK School of Music (Chairman: Kobus Dippenaar: 084 941 1574).
Thalia Drama Society
Thalia Drama Society is the campus student drama society that stages various plays during the course of the year. The popular campus drama competition for student residences forms part of their activities. (Chairperson: Marga van der Merwe: 072 597 1915).