February 17, 2017

Stellenbosch/Cape Town, South Africa

What a trip this has been! Today marks the first day after our final concert on this tour, and it's been an incredible experience for all of us in the KS.First, the people are as warm and friendly as I remember from my first trip here, back in 1998 with St John's College Choir. Secondly, the audiences are welcoming and generous with their applause - and so many of them tell us of their KS experiences back in the 70s, 80s and 90s! We've seen incredible old programmes from concerts, including one from the mid-1980s which featured the notice "All races welcome" - a reminder not only of the horrors of the Apartheid regime but also the determination of our forbears that nobody ought to be excluded from a KS concert purely because of race, creed or colour. It made me feel rather proud.Our organising team out here - Erika, Peet and Kobus - have been simply amazing. In 13 years of touring I can't remember another trip that I've enjoyed quite this much, and to have Stephanie and Bella here with me has made it all the more special. The team has worked with the support of NWU in Potchefstroom, and we're already talking about a return trip...Today we're wine-tasting and relaxing in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. This is the sixth continent we've toured during my time in the group, and only Antarctica remains...