Cathy trumpets the orchestra spring season
Cathy is founder member of Platform Jazz which celebrates 30 years of making music this month, and she is one of the longest serving members of the KZNPO.
TRUMPET player with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, Cathy Peacock from Cowies Hill, is looking forward to an auspicious and busy musical time with Platform Jazz and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s Early Spring Symphony Season.
Cathy is founder member of Platform Jazz which celebrates 30 years of making music this month, and she is one of the longest serving members of the KZNPO.
She entered the brass instrument area, still considered to be a male dominated area, at a mere nine years old.
A remarkable feat, but not for Cathy who was raised in a musical family.
“My dad taught me to play the trumpet. He played clarinet and trombone and my mum played the piano. We always went to concerts from when I was very young so my love of music started from when I was very small,” said Cathy.
“I started piano at the age of five. My brother played the trumpet so I thought I would try, too!” she said.
Cathy grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe and Vryheid and attended Vainona High in Harare and Vryheid High School. But she loves Cowies Hill. “Its so green and lush and yet doesn’t quite have Durban’s heat. Its very close to get into town or the Highway area. ”
Playing in an orchestra must be both exhilarating and stressful. But is it harmonious?
“The orchestra is like a large team. We all need to work together. Its a great thrill when we play well. Not everyone gets on but we need to be professional and think about the end result for the audience. It is very stimulating and most of the time it is great fun. But, there are bad days if the conductor is in a bad mood or we are playing in a bad venue or the function runs very long!” Cathy said.
To play well, Cathy said she works on her fitness. “I do specific breathing exercises and go to the gym a lot and play a lot of tennis! I think cardio helps your lungs to be in good shape. This definitely helps with a wind instrument!”
The trumpeter Cathy most admires is Wynton Marsalis.
“He is brilliant at the classics and jazz.” And as far as general music goes, Cathy likes to listen to 80’s music; Ed Sheeran, Michael Buble and modern Latin music.
Her favourite pieces to play are the Romantic symphonies and swing jazz!
Orchestral and jazz events
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2019 Early Spring Season runs each Thursday from 22 August to 12 September, with World Symphony Series concerts performed in the Durban City Hall on 22 August, and on 5 and 12 September and in The Playhouse Opera on 29 August, each concert starting at 7.30pm.
The climax of the opening concert on Thursday, 22 August under the baton of celebrated Russian maestro, Daniel Raiskin is Dvorák’s Eighth Symphony.
It has been said by Czech conductor, Rafael Kubelik, about the trumpet’s role in this sunny piece of music: “In Bohemia the trumpets never call to battle, they always call to dance!” which is an apt description of Cathy’s musical philosophy.
Platform Jazz, Durban’s well-known swing band, has two celebratory concerts to commemorate 30 years of performing: a jazz extravaganza in collaboration with Friends of Music on Sunday 1 September at the Durban Jewish Centre at 2.30pm, and the evening before on Saturday 31 August at S43.
Originally formed by Cathy Peacock in 1989 to play for the Rovos Rail arriving in Durban, Platform Jazz has gone on to play at a number of festivals, schools in KZN, churches, restaurants and theatres including the Playhouse, the Heritage, Rhumbelow and Barnyard as well as weddings, milestone parties, and for corporate and private functions.
The celebratory birthday concert will be hosted by Friends of Music at the Durban Jewish Centre, 44 KE Masinga (Old Fort Rd).
It will see current and past members of the band making music together.
This concert has a stellar line-up comprising band leader Cathy Peacock on trumpet, Duncan Wooldridge on trombone, Kirsten Sayers and former original member Ian Holloway on clarinet, Jeff Robinson on flute and sax, Jeff Judge (now resident in the Cape) on sax and vocals, Andreas Kappen on bass, Bruce Baker on kit, Durban’s jazz man Melvin Peters on piano with a guest slot by Christopher Duigan on piano and the singers are Shelley McLean Downham, Bryan Hiles and Natalie Rungan.
Platform Jazz will present their most loved and popular pieces and the concert will culminate with everyone on stage. The concert is a celebration and patrons are encouraged to bring picnic baskets and beverages as there will be restaurant style seating.
There will be a cash bar on the day. Seating is limited so book early.
The concert starts at 2.30pm with doors open from 1pm. Tickets are R130 and R110 for pensioners and students and can be bought through webtickets or at the door on the day.
For more info contact Cathy on 0823498362
The evening before there will be a party at S43 on Saturday August 31 where current and past members of the band will be making music together and Platform Jazz will present their most loved and popular pieces, R100 gets you in! Phone 031 3032747 to book.
For the KZNPO: Season tickets and bookings for individual concerts are through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, or online at www.computicket.com.
For more information call 031-369 9438, email bookings@kznphil.org.za or visit www.kznphil.org.za.
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