(Maestro Richard Cock)
Music
lovers should head to the hills for the third annual Michaelhouse Music
Festival, taking place over the month-end April long weekend. The four-day
festival kicks off on Freedom Day on April 27 and concludes on April 30.
Following
on from an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from the past two years, the
weekend programme has been thoughtfully-curated to offer a smorgasbord of
world-class music to cater for a myriad music lovers who can enjoy the best of
South African pop, choral, acoustic, jazz and classical music in the tranquil
setting of Balgowan.
Pietermaritzburg’s
own Idols star and student teacher
and last year’s winner of Idols SA
season 12 Noma Khumalo, will be joined by legendary vocalist Sibongile Khumalo
Big
names performing at the festival are Cape Town based live electronic duo The
Kiffness and Durban’s Easy Freak (a new Durban-based two-piece performing an
eclectic mix of Funk/Pop/Soul/Electro and other sounds combined) and Rubber
Duc: an independent, fresh, four-piece band. Also on the bill is Michaelhouse’s
Pillar Box Red comprising four Michaelhouse scholars.
Ending
the festival on a high note will be Africa’s foremost professional orchestra,
the KZN Philharmonic led jointly by maestro Richard Cock and Michaelhouse’s William
Silk.
Regular
music gig, Music in The Hills, moves for the weekend from its regular home The
Knoll Barn to Michaelhouse especially for the Michaelhouse Music Festival, so
their line-up will be part of the festival. Be entertained by both
professionals and amateurs, or grab a spot in one of the open mic slots to
perform and share your music with a friendly supportive music-loving audience.
The MiTH Tent will be located next to the Music Festival Entertainment Area and
Food Court (outside the Indoor Centre).
The
festival starts on April 27 with a programme entitled Choral Sounds celebrating the beauty of the human voice with young
singers from UP Youth Choir, Michaelhouse, Constantia Park and Howick Prep.
Friday
afternoon sees the KZN Youth Orchestra take to the stage for an easy listening
gentle Friday afternoon programme of orchestral favourites. The evening
highlight will be two of South Africa’s most loved voices who share generations
of talent, and a last name: Sibongile Khumalo and Noma Khumalo.
Saturday
starts the day with some musical nostalgia with Days Gone By performed by the Michaelhouse Staff Music Quintet.
There will be a lunch recital of classical marimba music. Saturday evening see
some of the best contemporary performers on stage together: The Kiffness;
Rubber Duc; Easy Freak and Pillar Box Red.
A gentle
start to Sunday morning with Two’s Company but a Trio’s Better performing music
from Beethoven and Mozart played professional musicians on flute, violin and
viola. The Sunday mid-morning concert is Choral Elite with the KZN Midlands
Youth Choir, the new Drakondale Girls’ Choir, Clifton Notties Prep Choir and Pietermaritzburg
Children’s Choir.
The
lunch time concert features Youth Performers with the KZN Philharmonic Ensemble
under the baton of William Silk with the KZN Midlands Youth Choir and soloists.
Sunday afternoon sees Christopher Duigan (piano) and Junnan Sun (clarinet)
performing piano and clarinet sonatas and variations by Saint-Saëns and
Rossini.
The
weekend programme wraps up with a rousing finale comprising the KZN
Philharmonic conducted by Richard Cock and William Silk featuring KZN Midlands
Youth Choir, Clifton Notties Prep Choir, Drakondale Girls’ Choir, Pietermaritzburg
Children’s Choir, Michaelhouse Chapel Choir and a number of soloists.
The
Michaelhouse Music Festival is well on its way to establishing itself as a Red
Letter Day in every lover of music's calendar and can be enjoyed from April 27 to
30. Tickets are available to purchase from www.tickethut.co.za/michaelhouse
For more
info like the festival’s Facebook page, Michaelhouse Music Festival or contact
the school on 033 234 1000 or www.michaelhouse.org
Visit www.mith.co.za for further details about Music in The Hills component: the Midlands'
weekly amateur music club.
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