It’s time to put your singing abilities to the test - for fun, of course - as Cape Town gets ready to turn 1,400 voices into one giant choir.
World Singing Day is coming to Groote Kerk on October 17, inviting experienced singers, enthusiastic shower singers and everyone in between to join the massed singing experience. You don’t need to be the Celine Dion of Cape Town. You just need to be willing to sing.
Hosted by The Heartsong Collective and Uthando South Africa, the event will bring together community, school and church choirs, professional musicians and members of the public for an evening of singing, with lyrics provided so everyone can join in.
South African singer Vicky Sampson and Khayelitsha-based singer-songwriter Mohau Moahloli will also make guest appearances.
The Cape Town event forms part of the 15th annual World Singing Day, a global initiative founded in 2012 by Colorado musician Scott Johnson. Held on the third Saturday of October each year, the event brings communities together through its message: “Sing together. Unite the world.”
In Cape Town, the concept takes on a distinctly South African flavour, with the organisers focusing on Ubuntu and bringing people from different ages, cultures, faiths and musical backgrounds into one shared experience.
The programme will include a South African adaptation of Matisyahu’s “One Day”, alongside Lionel Richie’s “Love Oh Love”, “Room for Everyone” and Johnny Clegg’s “Osiyeza”.
There is also a social-impact element, with a portion of ticket proceeds going towards the Red Cross Memorial Children’s Trust and SA Children’s Home. Five choirs will receive sponsored participation, helping groups who might otherwise not be able to attend.
The event follows the success of the 2025 Cape Town World Singing Day at Kalk Bay Community Hall, with this year’s gathering expanding the audience-choir concept to a much larger venue and crowd.
Heartsong Collective founder Lynne Poulsen said: “We want people to leave feeling that, for a moment, they belonged to something bigger than themselves.”
Tickets cost R200 for the general public, R100 per person for choir group bookings and R50 for disadvantaged choir groups. World Singing Day Cape Town takes place on Saturday, October 17, from 6.30pm to 9pm at Groote Kerk, Adderley Street.