| MUSIC MAN: Fanie Smit (centre), formerly of RSG (Radio Sonder Grense), was honoured by the Afrikaanse Taal en Kutuur Vereniging (ATKV) recently for his many years of promoting the performing arts. On the left is Japie Gouws, managing director of the ATKV group, together with Sakkie Kotze from ATKV Centurion and ATKV board member Picture: SUPPLIED |
Smit has a long association with Radio Sonder Grense (RSG). After completing his studies as a minister at the University of Stellenbosch in 1963, he was involved with the Church's Mission Action in Malawi for four years, where he assisted with the production of religious programs for the indigenous church.
In 1973 Smit accepted a position as announcer and producer at the then African service. A year later he became the first director for SABC TV1's newly formed department of religious programmes. Apart from the regular formal programs, he was also responsible for TV series such as ABC Bible, The Footsteps of Christ, Acre - Mirror of Civilization and other documentaries. As a freelance presenter he also produced a few series for TV2 and TV3.
In February 1972 Smit began his freelance program All Nations Praise the Lord and, with the exception of a period between 1985 and 1986, has 30 years of uninterrupted broadcast experience. The programme Praise the Lord has been broadcast on RSG since 1996.
In 1998 Smit began his musical tours with the aim of introducing music lovers to the famous theatres and opera houses of Europe. Since 2000 he has undertaken an annual Easter musical train to Cape Town.
Smit's knowledge and experience of sacred choral music is extensive, and through the Praise the Lord programme he presented music of international quality, promoting Afrikaans speakers' knowledge and appreciation of sacred choral music. In this way he supported the ATKV vision of a successful South African development through the performing Arts.
The presentation by the ATKV was made during a festival concert in the ZK Matthews Auditorium at Unisa before an appreciative audience.
Choirs, singers and musicians participated in a full programme which included the Magaliesberg Children's Choir, Men's Choir Pretoria, sopranos Hannetjie van Zuydam Corli Venter, Dewald von Solms (tenor) and Daniёl Verster (baritone), Wim Viljoen (organ) and Zanta Hofmeyr (violin).
The audience also sang along enthusiastically during the execution of "A song in praise of Jesus together" and "Jerusalem".