NOW here is a maxi music mix: jazz, joyful, jiving, jamming and – just for good measure – even joking.
There is no shortage of diversity when it comes to the top-notch entertainment that will be part and parcel of The Herald GM Citizen of the Year 2012 award ceremony at the Port Elizabeth Opera House tonight.
With legendary comedy man Marc Lottering wearing the MC's cap (and apparently clean underwear, he told The Herald!), those attending can expect plenty of laughs among the more formal proceedings when the five top finalists from the shortlist of 12 candidates are announced.
And before the highly anticipated and exciting climax of the evening – the naming of the overall Citizen of the Year – the stage will be the property of such hot talent who have made a name for themselves as Shoelace, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Choir and the Victoria Park High School Jazz Band.
Shoelace's Bulelani Matenjwa said the band would be delivering the goods to guests.
"Shoelace will be giving the audience the best performance for the event.
"[We] will start with a light set of slow jams building up the audience to sing along, with the band hanging on every word."
Earlier this year, Shoelace won a nationwide talent search to perform with US R&B star Usher in Johannesburg. The Motherwell band were part of six up-and-coming acts which won the Hansa Festival of Legends competition to share the stage with Usher at Orlando Stadium in March.
Marlon Louis of the VP jazz band said the audience could expect a great mix.
"We will bring a 16-piece ensemble to Citizen of the Year playing a variety of music.
"The band will play music ranging from Stand By Me and Tuxedo Junction, to South African music composed by the legendary Abdullah Ibrahim, Mandela and The Mountain."
Louis said the VP group was made up of teenagers ranging from 14 to 18 years old.
"They will bring a high energy, vibrant, youthful performance to the Opera House on Friday evening."
NMMU Choir director Junita van Dijk said the group would be doing more informal numbers at the event like Lady Madonna, Bohemian Rhapsody, Homeless and Pata Pata.
In July this year, the ever-busy NMMU Choir represented Africa at the 11th International Chorus Festival and World Choral Summit in Beijing, China.
The choir was Africa's only representative – one choir from each continent was invited – and they hosted a workshop on African music at the summit.
