OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

The Garden Route’s home grown orchestra – Carpe Musicam! – bade farewell to their Rock Pop and Romance Concert Programme in fine style in Sedgefield on 30 May.

The hall was packed to COVID limits and it was good to see so many people out (despite the best efforts of the fear-mongering COVID clergy!) and enjoying the full programme of music which has taken this 35-piece community orchestra months of rehearsal to bring to the very high standard of performance displayed. The audience complimented the orchestra and soloists with no less than four standing ovations during the show: a fitting end to a season of great musical growth by this local group of “part-time” musicians.

Almost without pausing for breath they will be moving into rehearsals for the next concert series, “Hello, Spring!” which will be presented in October. (3rd in Sedgefield and 15th and 17th in George.) This programme will consist almost entirely of 20th Century music and will include composers such as Debussy, Albeniz, Gardel, Gershwin and Shostakovitch. Two highlights will be violinist, Cherith Bain’s, solo versions of “Por Una Cabeza” and “Amazing Grace”. Conductor, Norman Carless, says that he wants to concentrate on neatness of playing, and sensitive group work and musicality in the varied styles of music that will be presented.

The “Carpe Musicam!” Choir will begin rehearsals on 6 June. And. The youth ensemble, “ Strings and Winds” has room for more young musicians who wish to play in a group for fun and are not yet up to orchestra standard. For more details about the choir and S&W please contact Elsabe at: [email protected]. (Brilliant new website sponsored by Dawid Stoltz of YOBO. Thank you, Dawid!)