South African Youth Choir
The multi-award-winning South African Youth Choir (SAYC) is a cultural powerhouse, uniting 48 gifted young singers (aged 13–25) from diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds across South Africa. The SAYC is far more than a musical ensemble; we are an institution dedicated to excellence, unity, and youth empowerment through the transformative power of
choral music.
Since its inception in 2005, the choir has captivated audiences across the globe, earning a distinguished reputation as one of South Africa's most sought-after performance ensembles. Celebrated for its extraordinary versatility, powerful artistryand compelling stage presence, the choir has firmly established itself on the world stage as a premier vocal ensemble, seamlessly
transcending genres and borders.
Artistic Excellence & Global Recognition
The SAYC has earned a distinguished reputation on both local and international stages, delivering unforgettable performances that blend traditional African repertoire with contemporary and classical works. Our accolades include:
• Four consecutive wins as “Best Youth Choir” at the prestigious ATKV Animato International Choral Competition (2014–2017)
• A historic clean sweep at the 10th ATKV Animato Finals in 2017, receiving awards for Overall Best Choir, Best Youth Choir, Best Contemporary Work, Best African Work, and Best Prescribed Work
• An official Disney Award in recognition of the choir’s valuable contribution to society and the Arts, following a cultural exchange tour of the United States (2017);
• The official proclamation of “South African Youth Choir Day” in Las Vegas (16 October 2017) and Minneapolis (21 October 2017)
Performance Legacy
The choir has graced some of the world’s most iconic venues and events, including:
• United Nations Headquarters, New York (2017)
• Disney Performing Arts Theatre, Los Angeles (2017)
• Zeitz MOCAA Museum Launch, Cape Town (2017)
• Cape Town Carnival as the Protea Pod (2025)
• Commonwealth War Graves Inauguration of the Cape Town Labor Corps Memorial, attended by HRH Princess Anne (2025)
• Rugby Championship 2024 Homecoming Game Opening Ceremony: Springboks vs All Blacks, DHL Stadium Cape Town (2024)
The choir regularly performs at high-profile corporate and political events, international summits, major sports events and cultural festivals, with over 60 engagements in 2025 alone.
Innovative Productions & Collaborations
The SAYC continually pushes artistic boundaries through innovative projects such as:
• “Naledi – An African Journey” (2019), an original choral musical staged at the Artscape Theatre
• Collaborations with global artists including Stef Bos, Para-One, and Kruger & Tutu
• Feature appearances in international media such as the BBC documentary African Songbook, a UK itvNEWS live broadcast and Dutch television’s Nr. 1 rated Reality TV Game Show Wie is de Mol?
