Corobrik Orchestra was a resounding success as musicians and music-lovers gathered at the Joosub Hall on the Westville Campus of the UKZN for the British Cultural and Heritage Association (BCHA) exciting musical feast.
As a curtain-raiser to the Main Concert, members of the Field Band Foundation showed their paces, followed by a performance by the Steel Drum Foundation.
The main concert opened with the South African National Anthem performed by a massed ad hoc orchestra performing under the baton of South African maestro Richard Cock. Other show-stoppers included: the thrilling opening sequence to Richard Strauss’s famous orchestral show-piece, Sprach Zarathustra; Alford’s ever-green Colonel Bogey March; Franz Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz; the much-loved Nimrod from Sir Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations; a Tribute To Henry Mancini; and Carillon from Georges Bizet’s L’arlesienne Suite.
This was followed by YMCA, No Matter What and Sole mio, with the Steel Drums. The programme concluded with performances of Washington Post and Shosholoza.
Speaking on behalf of BCHA, Event Organiser Cheri Steenberg said, “We greatly appreciate Corobrik’s on going support. This year there were 100 registered individual musicians ranging in age from 11 to 80 years plus the 70 Steel Drummers and Field Band members from Inanda Seminary – not to mention an encouraging audience including sponsored members of the community from homes for the disabled, the elderly and orphaned children. As I watched this event unfold, a sense of achievement crept in as looked at the people around me and, a child with her mouth wide open as she was in total awe of what she was seeing and hearing.”
“Reflecting on how privileged we are to host such an event, I noticed how the blind were absorbing every note played and could clearly see on some of the elderly faces that some of those pieces played recalled memories of times they had once shared. The hall was filled with enthusiasm by the Inanda Seminary children whose faces were lit up! This is what the concert is all about, bringing joy into the lives of others. Thank you, Corobrik, for enabling us to host this wonderful event and bring even just a little bit of laughter and happiness in the lives of others. Without you, this special concert would not have taken place and we are truly grateful for your support.”
