An all star line-up of top South African female vocalists is set to wow the Grand Arena audience at GrandWest on Women’s Day August 9. The concert will benefit the Saartjie Baartman Centre for abused women and children in Athlone, as well as Project Flamingo which supports breast cancer patients in the public health sector.
Divas Unite 2016, an annual benefit concert designed to celebrate Women’s Day in magnificent style, will feature leading songstresses Thembeka Mnguni, Rouchelle Liedemann, Adelia Douw, Kim Kallie, Judy Page, Magdalene Minnaar, Lynelle Kenned and seven-time SAMA-nominated girl band, BlackByrd.
Event producer, Barbara Lenhard, said following the success of the first Divas Unite concert presented in the Cape Town City Hall last year, they are delighted that GrandWest came on board this year.
“In the true spirit of togetherness and unity, this gives us the wonderful opportunity to raise funds for two charitable organisations and pay tribute to South Africa’s exceptional women in an even bigger way with an amazing selection of incredible singers and musicians.
“To highlight a few, Thembeka Mnguni recently captured the hearts of South African TV audiences when she was selected as one of the finalists of The Voice SA.
“She was the first talent who had three coaches turn their chairs during her blind audition and she also landed an exclusive recording contract.
“Recently, acclaimed soprano, Magdalene Minnaar, was invited to share the stage with international superstar, Josh Groban, and in March this year, TV presenter and soprano, Lynelle Kenned, walked away with a prestigious Fleur du Cap Award for her performance as Maria in West Side Story. Adelia Douw, the vivacious young jazz songstress from Cape Town, who won the Open Mic Jazz Competition last year, is definitely another star in the making.”
A new addition to the concert this year will be performances by the winner and all finalists of the first Divas Unite Young Divas Singing Competition. The exciting new talent search, open to young female singers between ages eight and 18, was hosted at the V&A Waterfront in June where the talented, Dirja Lekas, from Strand was crowned as the Young Diva 2016.
The powerful musical accompaniment will be provided by an all-female Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Divas Unite Choir and newly found violin duo, The Grey, while Brandon Phillips will be conducting and award-winning TV presenter, Katlego Maboe, will compère the show.
Tickets for Divas Unite 2016 are available through Computicket with tickets ranging from R180 to R220 and R120 for children aged six to 12. Ticket holders also stand the chance of winning a holiday for two people to Mauritius. To find out more and stand a chance to win, visit www.divas-unite.co.za or facebook.com/divasuniteSA – twitter/divasuniteSA – instagram/divasuniteSA.
* The Sentinel is giving away two sets of double tickets for the Divas Unite 2016 concert on Tuesday August 9 at 3pm.
To stand a chance to win, SMS SNDivas with your name and contact details to 34445.
SMSes cost R1.50. Lines are open and close on Thursday August 4 at midnight. Winners will be notified telephonically.