MUSIC LUNCH HOURSThe April programme of free Monday lunch-hour concerts by the music department of the University of Natal in the Howard College Theatre at 12h15 is: Apr 1: Jazz Concert. Artists to be confirmed. Apr 15: The Black Notes sing African Blues. A six-member male a capella vocal group, singing their own and others' songs in Zulu and English. Apr 22: Johnny Fourie - one of South Africa's top guitarists, with a local trio/quartet. Apr 29: NPO in the Students' Union. The Natal Philharmonic Orchestra's annual university concert in the Students' Union Hall. (The violin and piano recital by Geza Kayser and Ruth Goveia has been moved to May 6.) Contact Sally Hodges on 260-3353. VOCAL WORKSHOPSASMT and SACS in association with UND Music Department present a vocal workshop in Howard College Theatre on April 20 from 10h00 to 15h30. Workshop leaders include Maureen O'Meara (speech/language/voice therapist; Colleen Philp (singer/teacher), Ronel Laidlaw (director of music of St Mary's DSG, Kloof), and Thanduxolo Zulo who has sung for NAPAC and the Playhouse Company for many years. PRINCIPLES The workshop will concentrate on the principles of voice production and choral singing for young voices, African music; correct vocal use in speaking and singing and identifying poor vocal technique, and voice production and vocal management technique. The workshop will interest singers, choral conductors and singing teachers. Workshop fees are R35 (full-time students R5) with a discount of R5 if fees reache Mrs Jackson by April 13. For bookings or enquiries contact Mrs Eleanor Jackson on 84-6658 or 83 St Andrew's Drive, Durban North, 40. Late registration at 09h30 at the door. |
FAST-TRACKDr Ishbel Sholto-Douglas of the music department and computer specialist Mrs Brenda Mallinson of Rhodes University in Grahamstown have devised a means of 'fast-track' music education for students who have no musical background and ultimately for use in primary and secondary schools. Students with a disadvantaged educational background but with an ear for music will be able to study music at Rhodes having never seen any written music before or had any theory training. A submission on the subject has been accepted for demonstration at the Ed-Media 96 World Conference in Boston. Phone (0461) 31-87 for details. |
SAMRO SCHOLARSHIPSSAMRO recently announced its overseas scholarships (1996) for instrumentalists. The awards, which were established in 1962, were then only offered to composers. In 1968 a scholarship was established for performing artists since the two are interdependent - without the performers' skills, composers' works have scant chance of public exposure. The scope of the awards now rotate over a four-year cycle (composers, singers, instrumentalists and pianists) and since 1990 include two annual such scholarships for further study abroad for so-called "serious" music and "contemporary popular" music. CELEBRATE After its 30th anniversary in 1992, SAMRO increased the value of all its educational awards for music. Overseas scholarships for instrumentalists are now worth R55 000 each and among outstanding South African instrumentalists who have benefited from them are Bryan Clarke (local well-known principal percussionist of the NPO and joint organiser of its steel band project), and violinist Jurgen Schwietering, one-time leader of NPO and now leader of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. BROADENED 1996 sees the scheme broadened to include all South Africans, with an initial qualifying round during May (in collaboration with the SABC) followed by a "live" intermediate round on August 30. On August 31 two finalists in each genre will give public recitals at the Wits Great Hall to be broadcast on SAfm. Candidates from the intermediate round not chosen for the final round may qualify for special incentive awards of up to R7 000. ADVANCED Instrumentalists of advanced standard in both genres and who were born after April 30, 1965, are eligible for entry. Copies of the regulations and application forms may be obtained from SAMRO's Cultural Officer, PO Box 31609, Braamfontein, 2017, Tel: (011) 403-6635/Fax 403-1934. The closing date for receipt by SAMRO is April 30. |
CALLIGRAPHY GUILDDurban has a calligraphy guild that meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 19h00 (April 10). For more details contact Ingrid Lotter on 84-6328 or write to PO Box 201708, Durban North, 4016. |
JAZZ CENTREThe Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at the University of Natal will hold the following events in April: Apr 17 & 24 (17h00-18h15): Jazz Happy Hour. Tickets at door, R3. Apr 30 (16h00-19h00): UK/SA Jazz Exchange - cross-continental music workshop. Free. For details phone the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on 260-3385. |
SPLASHY FENPreparations are underway for the annual trek to the beautiful foothills of the Drakensberg for the Splashy Fen Music Festival. Once again sponsored by First National Bank and Group Five: Stevenson Construction, Splashy Fen will take place from May 1 to 5. The line-up expects to boast many of the country's top musicians as well as artists from the rest of Africa and a contingent of international artists. Over 40 top SA bands, folk musicians and folk-rock artists and vocalists will participate on the main stage supported by many representatives from folk clubs countrywide, buskers and travelling musicians who are invited to perform on the Free Stage. VETERANS The main stage features 12 new acts, eight veterans and 15 second-timers. Running daily from 11h00 to 17h00 it is reverting to the open-air amphitheatre with the magnificent backdrop of the distant mountain range. The aim is to focus on the environmental aspect of the festival in the spirit of Woodstock (the greatest open-air festival of all-time). After dusk festival-goers can re-locate to the huge marquee at the top of the hill for the evening's line-up. COMPETITION A main feature of the festival is The Splashy Fen Fiddle Festival, a competition which acknowledges the ever-increasing popularity of the violin. There are children's events, an arts and crafts market and a selection of food stalls. As well as the usual toilet facilities, showers will be available. Tickets are R120 for the whole festival through Computicket or folk clubs countrywide and at Pietermaritzburg's Game Store. For information or Fiddle Festival entry forms contact Third Ear Music on 304-1534. |
FIDDLER ON THE ROOFThe Playhouse Company presents Fiddler on the Roof - acclaimed by some as "one of the most memorable musical shows in a generation, if not all time" - from April 13 in the Playhouse Opera. Director is David Matheson, set designs by Keith Anderson and lighting by Joe Freedman. The musical director is Russian-born Naum Rousine with choreography re-staged by Mark Hawkins and David Matheson. ROBBINS First directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins at the Imperial Theatre, New York, in 1964, the musical broke all Broadway records, running for 3,242 performances, winning awards there and later in London. It has since been staged around the world for more than three decades, proving its universal appeal. In 1971 a film version was released starring Topol and directed by Norman Jewison. A memorable student production was staged at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in the 1980s. FAMILIAR The score includes such now familiar songs as If I Were a Rich Man, Tradition, Sunrise, Sunset and Matchmaker, Matchmaker. With lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Brock, the Playhouse Company production features the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. The impressive cast of 46 includes Andre Roothman as Tevye with Jo-Ann Pezzaro and Brenda Radloff alternating in the roles of Golde and Yente. Also featured are Garth Anderson (Lazar Wolf), Stuart Brown (Perchik), Kate Bruce (Tzeitel), Peter Court (Fyedka), Ashley Dowds (Mendel), Peter Gardner (Avram), Frank Graham (Mordcha), Colleen Nicklin (Chava), Jinny Sagorin (Hodel), Dennis Schauffer (the Rabbi), Nic Stier (The Fiddler) and Mari Visagie (Fruma Sarah). |
SINGER'S STUDIOThe Singer's Studio is a non-profit organisation aiming productions as teaching exercises for performers and audience alike, giving students, amateurs and semi-professional singers a chance to perform with a professional orchestra and to coach them to a standard they would not normally be able to achieve without the benefit of experienced help. The Singer's Studio's first production will be Pergolesi's Stabat Mater to be performed in association with the Rococo Chamber Ensemble at St Thomas' Church, Musgrave Road, on April 21 at 16h30. This oratorio, written for female voices, will be followed in September by Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. The chamber opera goes out in abridged form to schools before full performances at the Playhouse. The school performances are part of the NPO's educational programme in association with the Playhouse Company. Musical and Christmas concerts are planned for later in the year. The artistic director of Singer's Studio is Stacey Almond, producer and choreographer is Darren King and Hristo Kardjiev is musical director. Phone Stacey Almond on 202-7090. |
CHOIR MASTER COURSEThe eighth ATKV Choir Festival will be held later this year to promote Afrikaans Choir Music. Any mixed adult or high school choir with a home language other than Afrikaans may enter. The final competition will take place on October 19 in Johannesburg. Auditions will be held from August 8 to September 30. CHOIR MASTERS The ATKV offers an annual course for choir masters who may wish to enter their choirs in the competition. Course material includes coaching and rehearsing music. Course dates are April 19 to 21 at the Rustenburg Cultural Centre. The cost of R230 pp, includes accommodation, meals and all course material. Special attention will be paid to conducting techniques, voice training and notation. To enter, contact Andre Jooste on (011) 886-4888. Only a limited number of places available. |
