After months of build-up and preliminary rounds held all over the country, the finals of Radio Pulpit’s Gospel gala song competition, Jubilaté 2013, have proven to be a showcase of extra-ordinary Gospel talent in South Africa.
The overall winner of Jubilaté 2013, Stella Katombe (25) moved the audience in the Atterbury theatre in Pretoria and judges alike with her exquisite voice, sweet but powerful stage presence and enlivening performance of “You deserve the glory”.
Katombe comes from Johannesburg and started to sing at the age of 12 when she performed “Silent Night” in a school play. For Stella singing is “as natural as breathing”. She receives a CD recording and production contract and an extensive marketing and promotion campaign, sponsored by Vonk Music, as well as a cash prize sponsored by Excella Oil. Arts Revelation, a group of 10 members from Pretoria and Xolixwa Mjekula (29) from Johannesburg took the second and third places in the senior section and also received cash prizes.
The enthusiasm of the contestants in the junior section motivated them to new heights as they gave the audience exhilarating performances. The winner of Jubilaté Junior in the category 14-18 years, Leandi Scheuer (14) from Pretoria particularly wowed the audience with her energetic performance of “Can’t live a day”. Leandi is also part of the group, Triptiek, who took third place in the category 14-18 years. The winners of the junior categories are:
- 3-8 years: Leri du Bois (8) from Durbanville
- 9-11 years: Kruizkidz from Philadelphia and Durbanville
- 12-13 years: Danielle de Villiers (13) from Vyeboom
- 14-18 years: Leandi Scheuer (14) from Pretoria