GEORGE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - The eight-year-old flutist Andrew Brink and 11-year-old cellist Armand Vermaak have freshly joined Carpe Musicam! Orchestra as fully fledged members.
These two boys will be performing two items with the orchestra during the Rock, Pop and Romance concerts, namely Haydn Seek, a collection of nursery rhyme tunes played in the classical manner of Haydn's time, and a shortened and simplified version of the final movement of Beethoven's 9th symphony, the famous Ode to Joy melody.
Carpe Musicam! Orchestra's May concerts, Rock, Pop and Romance, are a celebration of youthful energy, creativity and passion.
The concerts will be held on 14 and 15 May at the George Methodist Church at 19:00, and at the Sedgefield NGK hall on 30 May at 15:30.
"Carpe Musicam! encourages young musicians to experience the unique thrill of playing with an orchestra and the orchestra's under twenty contingent is growing by leaps and bounds," says conductor and co-founder Norman Carless.
A quarter of the orchestra's members are younger than 18.
Young musicians
Andrew Brink (8) is the youngest member of the orchestra and has the dubious privilege of being seated between his flute teacher, Sanri Oosthuizen, and his mother at rehearsals. "It is heart-warming to see one so young making a meaningful contribution to the orchestra's sound," says Carless.
Armand Vermaak (11) was so inspired by the cello that he decided to become a cellist. According to Carless, his mother, a violinist in the orchestra, borrowed a cello for him and he got busy.
"Such was the standard of his dedication, application and quick progress that he was able to play at two rehearsals before attending his first formal lesson earlier this year."
Andrew Brink (8) and conductor Norman Carless.
Youthful composers
The wonderful and enduring music of famous bands like Queen, The Beatles, Abba and The Rolling Stones - all featured in the upcoming concerts - were mainly written and created by young musicians in their twenties. In addition, the music from the animated film How to Train your Dragon, also part of the oeuvre, celebrates the love between a boy and his dragon.
Tickets are priced at R120 and are available online at www.carpemusicam.co.za and at the door.
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