The National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) has announced an extension of the audition deadline for its inaugural Blended Voices – A Namibian Choral Celebration competition. This decision gives choirs across Namibia more time to prepare and submit their entries, with the new deadline now set for February 26, 2025. The event itself is scheduled for April 26, 2025, offering a significant platform for emerging and established choirs to showcase their talent.
Blended Voices is designed to celebrate and elevate Namibia’s rich choral music culture by seamlessly blending traditional musical influences with contemporary expressions. The competition not only highlights artistic excellence but also aims to forge a bridge between the country’s diverse musical traditions and modern creative interpretations. It is a unique opportunity for choirs to gain national recognition and potentially secure a breakthrough in their artistic careers.
According to Desiree Mentor, Public Relations Officer at NTN, “Blended Voices represents a groundbreaking initiative by the National Theatre of Namibia to showcase and elevate the country’s choral music culture.” She emphasized that the competition is intended to foster a deeper appreciation for Namibian music while encouraging choirs to experiment with a variety of genres beyond the conventional gospel format.
Mentor further stated, “With a grand prize of N$50,000, the competition demonstrates NTN’s serious commitment to supporting and developing local musical talent.” This substantial prize underscores NTN’s dedication to nurturing artistic talent and providing meaningful opportunities for choirs to gain exposure. The event is expected to have a significant impact on the arts community by creating a professional platform where choirs can perform in front of large audiences and build valuable industry connections.
In the competition, the top five choirs selected from the audition stage will advance to the finals. These choirs will compete in three rounds of performances, where they will render pre-selected contemporary Namibian songs, culminating in a final round judged by an external panel of choral music experts. Judging criteria will include intonation, diction, performance technique, and overall musicality, ensuring a fair and rigorous evaluation process.
Choirs interested in participating are encouraged to submit a 3-minute audition video via WhatsApp at +264 81 366 2133 before the deadline on February 26, 2025. For full competition guidelines and further details, please visit www.ntn.org.na. This extension presents an excellent opportunity for more choirs to join what promises to be a historic celebration of Namibia’s choral artistry.
