MUSIC

STEEL DRUM

The Steel Drum Foundation, under the leadership of Bryan Clarke and Dobri Paliev, now has a second trailer thanks to a R15 000 donation from the Arts and Culture Trust. This means that more schools can be reached and, with the transfer of Bryan's main activities to the Field Band project (see separate article), the Steel Drum Foundation is looking for two new teachers.

Candidates should have a driver's licence and will need a basic music knowledge and loads of energy and enthusiasm - especially if they're to follow the example of Bryan Clarke who has more energy than ten people!

Anyone interested in teaching for the Steel Drum Foundation, should contact Bryan on 083 777 6762.

UND HAPPY HOUR

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at the University of Natal holds concerts every Wednesday from 16h45 to 18h15. The programme for April is:

Apr 9: Bahulo with Mncedi Kupa, Bongani Sokhela and Nkanyezi.

Apr 16: Gerald Sloan's guitar magic

Apr 23: Thulani Shezi Trio

Apr 30: Natalie and Nishlyn present vocal and acoustic jazz

There is a cover charge of R3 and a cash bar is available.

For details phone 260-3385.

NBS SUNSET PROMS

On April 13 at 17h30 the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra will feature in another NBS Sunset Proms concert at the Village Green. The programme, con-ducted by Lykele Temmingh, will include many classical favourites.

Tickets cost R20 (students and pensio-ners R10) and are available at Compu-ticket or at the Village Green.

MOUNTAIN MUSIC

Music in the Mountains '97

, an annual national musical happening of impressive stature, is presented for the fourth time by the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School from April 23 to 29.

And what could be more inspiring from a musical or a soul-strengthening point of view than listening to excellent voices lifted in song surrounded by the impres-sive mountains and valleys of the Central Drakensberg?

OUTREACH

For the first time, this year the festival will incorporate an outreach to schools with the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Music in the Mountain

, which rates among the top festivals in the country, showcases the choral music of the Drakensberg Boys' Choir and features some of South Africa's top artists.

PROGRAMME

This year's programme will include the Drakensberg Boys' Choir and Natal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring highlights from G F Handel's Messiah; an eclectic programme of Viennese and African music, and the gala performance of Kaleidoscope (light classical works and excerpts from well- known musicals). Other top national stars include Cutt Glas, Prophet, Gay Lambert, Martin Wenkidu, Anton Smit, the Othukela Ngoma Zulu Dance Group, Manu Padayachee and Marimba.

The Drakensberg Boys' Choir School campus and the Champagne Valley promise to become a hive of activity. Singing, concerts, craft markets, artists, musicians, Zulu dancers, hiking, horse riding, special children's workshops, puppets, food stalls, touch farm and exhibitions are among the attractions of this event-with-a-difference involving the whole family.

Book through Ron‚l Henning on (036) 468-1260 or 469-1012.

e-mail: DBCS@pixie.co.za or www.cws.co.za/dbcs.

APRIL WITH THE NPO

The Natal Philharmonic Orchestra's final World Symphony Series concert before it goes on a three-week tour of KZN could prove one of the musical highlights of the year.

The April 3 concert will feature the combined talents of the London Bach Choir under the direction of Sir David Wilcocks with soloists Maureen Braithwaite (from Britain), Sibongile Khumalo, Gordon Christie and George Stevens in a performance of Verdi's Requiem.

MINI-MUSICALS

The original Sugar Bush girl Eve Boswell will hold a fund raising concert in aid of the Durban Child Welfare. Mini-Musicals, has one performance in the BAT Hall at the BAT Centre on April 13 at 14h30.

Guests on the show include the Off-beat Harmony Group (a close harmony vocal group) and the Melvin Peters Trio. Miriam Erasmus will be the MC.

Eve's annual concerts showcase the skills learned by pupils at her singing studio and many of Durban's top voices have trained with her over the years. The line-up includes numbers from Oliver!, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Grease and South Pacific.

Detailsfrom Eve Boswell on 21-5983.

MUSIC DEPT CONCERTS

The Music Department at the University of Natal holds free lunch-hour concerts each Monday during the academic term. The concerts are held in Howard College Theatre from 12h15-12h55.

The line-up this month is as follows:

Apr 7: The Crocodile Gumboot Dancers in the Open Air Theatre

Apr 14: Jazz concert. Phone the Jazz Centre on 260-3385 for details.

Apr 21: Piano Recital. UND music department graduate Chris Duigan plays unusual and rarely-heard works by Clara Schumann, Brahms and Schubert.

Apr 28: No concert - public holiday

For more information, contact the concert organiser on 260-3353.