The Stellenbosch University Choir won the Fiësta Award for the best performance in classical music.

The prize was awarded on Thursday (18 February) in Pretoria at a glamorous event held in the State Theatre.

The Fiësta Awards are presented each year by the DStv channel kykNET, and it aims to reward excellent productions which were staged in a particular year at one of the country's Afrikaans arts festivals.

The SU Choir received its award for a concert held at last year's SU Woordfees. This year, the choir will again give a concert at the festival.

André Van der Merwe, conductor of the SU Choir, says: "The Fiësta Award gives great recognition to the choir members for their exceptional dedication and talent. For me, every rehearsal with this group is inspiring.

"I am very proud of this team, which proves that diversity can indeed be celebrated!"

In the category for classical music, the SU Choir competed with the Cape Town Youth Choir, a recital by pianist and SU alumnus Esthea Kruger (also presented at the SU Woordfees), as well as a performance by the Odeion String Quartet from Bloemfontein with Cape Town soprano Zanne Stapelberg.

Jana Hatting, project manager of the SU Woordfees, which is the custodian of the choir, said: "We are very proud of the choir. We have now shown that we are the best both nationally and internationally!"

The SU Choir performs on 10 and 11 March at 13:15 at the SU Woordfees. The concert will be held in the Endler Hall. Tickets are available from Computicket.