Hilary has visited South Africa three times, working with and learning from the Diamond Choir to enable her to sing and teach South African song and dance in as authentic way as possible.

It is important to encourage good pronunciation, movement and a real feel for the music. It also gives an opportunity to look at issues around the history of South Africa, apartheid, civil rights, prejudice and how music can break down barriers and bring people of different cultures together.

In 2006, Hilary’s choirs organised a visit for The Diamond Choir, a choir of South African mine workers to visit the UK. During their visit she arranged for them to visit a number of schools in the area. Hilary visited the schools before hand to teach some South African songs to the pupils enabling them to sing with the Diamond Choir.