The SU Choir, champion choir of Stellenbosch University, arrived back in the Mother City on Sunday morning after their flight from Malaysia.

The Choir won both their categories at the 6th World Choir Games held in Shaoxing, China, from 15 – 26 July, and was crowned world champion.

The SU Choir, lead by André van der Merwe, walked away with the first prize in Category 8 (Mixed Choirs) as well as Category 15, Musica Contemporanea (also known as contemporary music). They also received gold medals for this feat. Category 8 saw 29 choirs competing for top honours while 11 choirs battled things out in Category 15.

Earlier Van der Merwe (via sms) said it was an experience to be part of the more than 450 competing choirs from all over the world. “The SU Choir received the highest overall mark of 95, 8%. The Choir acted as perfect ambassadors and received very good media coverage on TV, radio and print media. They also took part in the prize winner concert. I am extremely proud of the discipline, passion and dedication of the 112 choir members!”

The Choir brought home a gold medal at the last Choir Games held in Graz, Austria. The Tygerberg Children’s Choir, also from the Western Cape, took first place in the Category 14 – Music of the Religions and bagged a gold medal.

More than 80 countries took part in the competition that is regarded as the biggest of its kind in the world. The Choir Games are held every two years – the next one will be in Cincinnati in the US in 2012.

A smaller group of choir members, including Van der Merwe, will arrive back on Wednesday.

• For more information visit www.interkultur.com/world-choir-games