After 26 years in the choral world, Lizl Gaffley has finally made the jump from teacher to judge on the reality TV show, Sing in Harmonie.
The popular show is broadcast on kykNET every week and has 500 000 viewers.
Her choir, Kenmere Primary School, won the competition last year and based on this, she was invited to become one of the adjudicators by the producer, Anthonie Bougas.
Anthonie says: “ Om vir Lizl Gaffley deel van die span te maak was beslis een van die beste besluite in Sing in Harmonie se geskiedenis.”
“Although she is one of South Africa’s most talented choir leaders she is so humble.”
Mrs Gaffley has paid her dues to our Cape Town music community, and not only with her school choir.
She has also been involved with the Kaapse Klopse, starting with the juvenile choir item, and later she went on to become the first female coach to win the combined chorus, as well as Die Burger cup in the Top 8 of the Cape Malay Choir Board.
At the same time she was the only female coach in the entire competition.
YOU BE THE JUDGE: From top left Anthonie Bougas, Phillip Kotze, Hannelie van Sittert, Izak Davel and Lizl. Photo: SUPPLIED
She has broken the stereotype that “only men” can achieve greatness within the Cape Malay choir community, and I’m sure that she has inspired many young ladies to venture in the same direction since then.
Her choir, The Chorale Girls, will also be participating in the World Choir Games in Polokwane later this year.
She is a mother of two and both her children are singers.
But over the years, this popular teacher has been a mother figure to thousands of youngsters.
I remember the first time I saw a coloured guy singing on TV, I was 10 years old and James Bhemgee made his way onto the Felicia Mabuza-Suttle show as the Singing Dirt Collector from Kalksteen.
The excitement that filled my heart inspired me to venture into the arts, because seeing a man from the Cape on one of the biggest television shows at the time was unbelievable to me.
Now imagine what Lizl Gaffley can do for our youngsters, because she will be on kykNET for a massive 40 episodes.
I often watch competitions like Idols or The Voice and never quite feel like I know the judges, the ones who hold all the power in their hands.
Mrs Gaffley on Sing in Harmonie is probably the closest we will get to having one of our own, ‘n meisie vannie Kensington, in a seat of power on a national competition.
Mrs Gaffley says that she is grateful for this opportunity, not only because she gets to do what she loves best, but it has also presented her with the opportunity to travel and see parts of the country that she never knew existed.
“It’s been a fantastic journey so far. Not only did I grow as a person but I met so many people and saw so many different cultures,” she says.
“Another huge experience for me was the children, and discovering so many diamonds in the rough that only need a little polishing.
“These choirs are showing so much potential, I never thought I’d be living my passion.”
Mrs Gaffley adds that it is wonderful to listen to all the different choirs and reminds her that choir singing is a universal sound.
She urges schools in Cape Town to get into contact with her should they wish to participate in the Sing in Harmonie competition next year.
She says while many choirs upcountry are entering, she feels as if sing-mal Cape Town is missing out on a great opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.
Meanwhile, the new judge says she always tries to make sure that her criticism is constructive as the show is about building children’s confidence and building choirs.
She says that she has already teared up a few times when a choir sang beautifully, which is usually followed by host Anthonie asking: “ Lizl, is dit trane wat ek sien?”
She says: “J y worry oor jou make-up want jy wiet jy is op tv maar jy kan jouself nie help nie as die kinders so pragtig sing nie.”
Catch Sing in Harmonie on DStv channel 146 at 4pm every Sunday.