Meet our Creative Conductor: Franco Prinsloo #Vox_Tribe
Q: What has been your most memorable experience with Vox to date?
A: I had an intense emotional experience conducting my setting of Breyten Breytenbach's poem: "Ek sal sterf en na my vader gaan" in the Chiesa di S.Maria Assunta Cathedral in Breganze, Italy. The choir sang so beautifully and it felt like I connected with every single singer on a very spiritual, and meaningful way. It was as if I fully understood the text of the poem on a very deep and profound level: "Ons kom en ons gaan | is soos water uit die kraan | so soos klank uit die mond | so ons kom en ons gaan".
Q: What do you enjoy the most about being part of Vox?
A: For me, sharing the compositions I make with willing, enthusiastic, and extremely talented singers, is an absolute honour. The Voxies become like family and we share a piece of ourselves with each other. It is also incredible and humbling to see how music can have a positive and healing effect on people. #vox_family
Q: Which piece is your favourite that you have performed with Vox Chamber Choir?
A: This is extremely difficult to answer, as I really love all the pieces that I have written for the Vox Chamber Choir. Every time I give the choir new sheet music, I am truly excited to hear it and shape it with them. Sometimes I will write a piece in the afternoon and then rehearse it with them that same evening!
Q: What do you look forward to the most with Vox Chamber Choir?
A: This past Saturday, we had a very intense and beautiful rehearsal of my new Easter Oratorio "Kruis van Liefde" at the M1-studio at the SABC in Johannesburg. We created an incredible energy together that all of us could feel. It is a very emotional piece for me to conduct and I cannot wait to share it with the world. #watch_this_space
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: As choristers we all already have superpowers: Creating beauty and meaning from a deep and honest place through music brings healing to the word, the power of music!
Q: What are you reading/binge watching at the moment:
1. Reading - "On Pärt" by Paul Hillier & Tõnu Tormis;
2. Watching - “Our Planet” | "RuPaul’s Drag Race" | "Brigerton".
Q: How do you get inspiration to stay fresh and keep creating new music?
A: I try to discover as many new composers as I can lay my hands on, on a daily basis. I believe if you create from a place of honesty and connectedness, the music will be "what it is supposed to be" and if you are not afraid to experiment and dig deeper within yourself, there will open up an endless dimension of possibilities.
Q: Name another hobby/interest you participate in:
A: Hiking in lush forests #Magoebaskloof & spending time on Google Maps #addiction.
Q: What is your Hogwarts House?
A: Proud Ravenclaw.
Q: What made you decide you wanted to create music?
A: When I was still a young boy, my dad (also a lover of classical music) started to collect a series of books and CD's called: "The Classical Collection". Every month we received a CD with music by a specific composer, accompanied by a book with programme notes and a history of that specific composer. It was the most exciting thing for me and I could not wait to receive the new edition each month. My dad and I would then listen to all the tracks and mark the movements we enjoyed the most. Later, when the collection grew, we would play a game of "Name the composer and title of the work". I think this is where my love for classical music started.
Q: List 3 things on your bucket list:
1. Conduct a concert with Vox Chamber Choir in the Wieskirche in Bavaria, Germany (Oooh and while we are in the area "sommer" at the Benedictine monastery in Ettal as well...);
2. See Cecilia Bartoli live in concert; (And Martha Argerich);
3. Go on a yacht trip on the coast of Croatia.
📸 Photo Credit: JP Hanekom (www.jphanekom.com)