The annual Christmas Concert of the Frank Pietersen Music Centre on Friday 8 December promises to be extra-special this year, with the performance of “An African Rhapsody for Choir and Orchestra” composed by Eric Gerber, a good friend of the music centre. Former music teacher at Paarl Girls’ High School and director of its orchestra, he has brilliantly arranged many of the music centre’s ensembles and orchestra over several years.
The Christmas Concert of the Frank Pietersen Music Centre is always the highlight on the institution’s calendar.
This year the concert will be something for everyone. For the baroque lovers the Senior Strings will perform Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto”, while those who prefer a more jazzy sound the Senior Windband’s “White Christmas” arranged by Michael Sweeney and “A Jazzy Christmas”, arranged by Johnnie Vinson, will be just the thing. with “A Joyous Holiday” and “A Christmas Song” performed by the Intermediate String and Percussion Ensemble will also be a sure hit and the audience will definitely love the junior string and percussion ensemble’s rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. The Senior Brass Ensemble & Adult Choir will perform the beautiful “The Newborn King” arranged by Lloyd Larson and there is much more to look forward to. This year one of the centre’s school-outreach projects, The LK Zeeman Recorder Ensemble, will perform, and it will be the first time Dalweide Primary School violinists will join the combined orchestra to play Christmas carols.
The traditional highlight of the evening is when all instrumentalists, singers and choir from beginners to seniors get together in a massed orchestra to accompany the sing-along carols.
After which the massed orchestra and choir will perform “An African Rhapsody” by Eric Gerber and conducted by Cameron Hoffmeester.
The message of peace and unity of this composition will be a very fitting ending to the Christmas Concert of 2023.
This years concert will also be very special for Vaughan Pietersen, stalwart of Frank Pietersen Music Centre, as this will be his last Christmas concert as principal of the institution, before his retirement at the end of September next year.
As always, the music centre does not ask an entrance fee for the Christmas Concert, but this year it asks the audience to open their pockets and give a contribution towards the Frank Pietersen Bursary Fund.
Even though its fees are minimal compared to private fees, there are many families battling to pay for their children’s tuition.
We also encourage those who can to follow in some of our patrons’ footsteps and “adopt a musician” by sponsoring a talented learner for a year.
The 2023 Christmas Concert of 8 December starts at 19:00 at the Frank Pietersen Music Centre in Sanddrift Street Noorder Paarl, with gates opening at 18:00. There will be food and beverages for sale.
For any questions please contact the Frank Pietersen Music Centre on 021 872 2123/4.
