SA: Ndlovu Youth Choir earns five-star reviews at Edinburgh Fringe debut

The production, presented by South African promoter Showtime Management in association with Edinburgh venue Assembly, was reviewed by publications including The Scotsman, The List, One4Review, Edinburgh Festival and MiniTravellers.

The choir’s founder and conductor, Ralf Schmitt, said the response from audiences and critics had exceeded the group’s expectations.

“Our first Edinburgh Fringe was an extraordinary experience for the Ndlovu Youth Choir, both on and off stage,” Schmitt said. “We absolutely loved performing the show and from the very beginning, the reaction from audiences was beyond anything we could have anticipated. There was a remarkable atmosphere in the room each day, and we were deeply moved by the response.”

‘A Celebration of Africa’ combines African repertoire with international songs, including ‘Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Higher Love’ and ‘Nessun Dorma’. The arrangements were presented through the choir’s contemporary style and stage production.

The performance also featured two original compositions by the choir. ‘The Calling’ opened the show, while ‘We Will Rise’ served as the finale, focusing on themes of hope, resilience and the belief that a person’s circumstances of origin need not determine their future.

The Edinburgh performances followed the choir’s international exposure through television, including its appearance on Season 14 of America’s Got Talent, where it became the first choir to reach the final. It later finished second on America’s Got Talent: All-Stars.

Schmitt said the response from audiences was particularly significant to the group.

“For us, that was perhaps the greatest success of the entire experience. We came to Edinburgh wanting to share the spirit, energy and story of the Ndlovu Youth Choir with audiences from around the world, and to see people responding so emotionally to the music was incredibly rewarding,” he said.

“We were equally stunned by the critical response. Receiving multiple five-star reviews during our first Edinburgh Fringe was something we never expected, and the warmth and enthusiasm of both critics and audiences gave the entire company an enormous sense of pride.”

Beyond its performances, the choir used its time in Edinburgh to attend productions by artists from other countries. Members watched performances from Colombia and Australia, among others, giving the young South African performers an opportunity to encounter different musical and theatrical approaches.

The choir also performed informally on the streets of Edinburgh, where members sang and danced while promoting the production. These encounters led to interactions with festival audiences and visitors, including an impromptu performance for a bride after the group encountered a wedding.

The Edinburgh Fringe experience forms part of the choir’s wider international touring programme. Its next performances are scheduled for the Netherlands and London from 17 to 28 September.