History of the South African Christmas Bands’ Board
A general overview of Christmas Choirs
The tradition of Christmas Bands is centered in the Western Cape Province, and started way back in 1915.
The membership of most Bands consisted of family members and friends who paraded and performed in residential areas over the festive season commencing on Christmas Eve. Most Bands had a membership of approximately twenty five Seniors who played stringed instruments such as violins, guitars, cellos and banjos. Woodwind and brass instruments such as saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, trombones and tubas were later introduced and is still prevalent today.
The formation of Unions was established and most Bands sought affiliation to these umbrella bodies.
1941 Cape and District String Band Union
1942 City and Suburban Christmas Bands’ Union
1948 Worcester and District Christmas Bands’ Union
1949 Peninsula and District Christmas Bands’ Union
1953 Elsies River and District Christmas Bands’ Union
1953 Athlone and District Christmas Bands’ Union
1956 Northern and District Christmas Bands’ Union
1986 South Western and District Christmas Band Union
1989 Western Cape Christmas Bands’ Union
The Suid Afrikaanse Kerskoor Raad (SAKKR) was founded in 1958 and most of the above Unions were affiliatedto this Body with exception of City and Suburban Christmas Bands’ Union and Athlone and District Christmas Band Union respectively who chose to remain independent. The Western Province Christmas Choir Board was later formed in 1976 and absorbed some of the membership of the SAKKR.
On 10th October 2000, on a request from the Department of Arts and Culture to centralize the Unions under one controlling Body, an interim committee was formed to steer the process and negotiations.
On 21 March 2001 the following Office bearers were elected. The Western Province Christmas Band’s Board absented themselves from this historic occasion.
President : Michael F Heuvel
Vice President : Desmond J Baartman
Secretary : Charles AJ Fisher
Assistant Secretary : Christy Amsterdam
Treasurer : John Heuvel
Assistant Treasurer : Wesley van Staden
Trustees : Arend Pietersen, Fred Moore, Joseph Barnes,
Stanley Amsterdam, Collin Williams, Adrian Arends.
On 04 August 2001 the final draft of the constitution was accepted by all Unions as the Board’s Official Constitution and all executive members appended their signatures to the acceptance of this Constitution. The nineteen previous
drafts were amended to the satisfaction of all stake holders.
The Inaugural Service of the SAUCBB was held at the Anglican Resurrection Church in Bonteheuwel on 19 May 2002 which was conducted by Rev. Charles Blows and Rev. Melvyn Booysen. The elected officials were officially sworn in by the clergymen. Dignitaries present were :
Premier Gerald Morkel
Patrick McKenzie Minister of Arts & Culture, Sports and Recreation
Mrs Hannetjie Du Preez from the Western Cape Province Directorate
In November 2006, two of the Unions namely Peninsula Christmas Band Union and Boland Christmas Band Union respectively disaffiliated from the Board due to difference of opinions. In the process, the Elsies River & District Christmas Band Union lost the membership of the Perseverance Christmas Band.
In 2014 Boland Christmas Band Union re – affiliated to the SAUCBB and recently changed their name to Cape Country Christmas Band Union.
Funding and Activities
The Executive successfully applied for funding to the Provincial Arts and Culture Department and later acquired a CSD Registration, NPO Certificate, SARS Tax Clearance Certificate and a Vendor number by the City Of Cape Town.
The Local and Provincial Government was very supportive and offered financial aid and promoted the activities of the SAUCBB.
The first competition was held on 30 March 2003 at Esselen Park, Worcester where 29 choirs participated.
Drill and Music Workshops were conducted regularly to improve and enhance the status of the members.
Vision
- To unite all bands under one entity.
- Embark on a Road Show to all Provinces.
- To organise an Inter-Provincial Competition.
Our Motto
We Share, Promote and Unite