​A 73-year-old retired school teacher, Edner Kgomane, is a founder and Conductor of the Kagiso Choral Choir. 
Her choir was competing during the annual older persons choral festival organised by Gauteng Department of Social Development at Mogale City Hall, West Rand.

Kgomane said she used to be active in sports when she was still a teacher before retiring in 2009. The ever-smiling conductor says it all started when she joined the Kagiso Association for the Elderly. 

“After my retirement I joined the Kagiso Health and Walk Club and the activities at the club kept me strong. At the club I found my peers and I encouraged them that we form a choir, and everyone was happy and welcomed the idea”, explains Kgomane. 

Despite the challenges they come across, they continue to stick together. She says they never looked back instead they encourage each other to put more effort and learn from those challenges. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic distracted our daily practises, and we were forced to meet only two days a week which was Monday and Wednesday whereas we were used to meeting every day,” she says. 

Kgomane says they treat each other like family, respect one another and make sure that if there are any challenges, they talk about them. 

According to the bubbly conductor music has a way of sending a message. 
Her advice to fellow senior citizens is that they need to come out of their houses and stop stressing about their grandchildren and enjoy their latter part of their lives with their peers.