Cutt Glas, the well-known a capella group, is Finnished –or rather, `Finnish-ed’! The popular all-female group leaves shortly for Finland to take part in the vocal ensemble section of the Tampere Choir Festival finals on June 10, competing as the only finalist from Africa against 19 other groups. The five members are excited at the opportunity and look forward to meeting groups like Vox Orange (Germany), Fivealive (Finland) and Remake (Russia).

Competition at this level is not only new to Cutt Glas but also to the sponsors of their trip, Bonnita PureJoy. “This, our first music sponsorship is a great privilege, especially because it involves Cutt Glas,” says Mickey Geldenhuys, PureJoy product manager. “The pure pleasure and inner joy that a Cutt Glas performance entails is synonymous with Bonnita PureJoy,” says Ms Geldenhuys.

Cutt Glas’s has already proved its international worth by winning the vocal ensemble section and prize for best adaptation of an indigenous work (Mango Groove’s “Moments Away”) at the Concourse Panafricain Musique et des Arts held in Pretoria in 1995. Their performances were also well received at Expo ’98 in Portugal. In Tampere, they will perform some of their favourites, such as their adaptations of “Halala Afrika” by Johannes Kerkorrel, “Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull and “One Voice” by Barry Manilow.