Monday, September 19, 2011

ST THOMAS FAMILY FEST

After a hiatus of many years, this event took place on Saturday 17 September 2011.  The atmosphere was festive, the weather balmy and the crowd wonderfully expectant.  Stallholders displayed their wares and satisfied the hunger of the masses.  Music was siphoned from the Coke monstrosity and two soccer matches entertained the sport-loving few. 

Two jumping castles provided much needed distraction for the little ones, while their parents sauntered through the crowds.  There were, however, a few overgrown infants who bounced their boredom away.

The entertainment was crowd-pleasing - from Hip-Hop dancers to Mr and Miss St Thomas and Mr Port Elizabeth.  The learners were dressed in their finery with one outfit trying to upstage the next and, of course, few missed the opportunity to be immortalised on memory cards.  Facebook will be under siege with the deluge of various images, showcasing potential catwalk stars.

A rather croaky MC kept the crowd informed and even attempted a few dance moves.  Fortunately his voice did not allow him to break into song, thankfully.

 The Dee Jays (Spectrum and Swisha) kept the beat going throughout the day.


It turned out to be a rather pleasant affair.  The food was good, the atmosphere electrifying and the crowd well-behaved.  This will most certainly become an annual event, which will grow through its popularity.



 

Saturday, September 17, 2011

THE DA CAPO PIANO DUO

Cindy Barth & Nicholas Luffin
 
 
An accomplished musician, Cindy Barth has a Bachelor of Music Degree from UPE (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), where she studied under Barbara van Wyk (piano) and Johan van der Berg (clarinet).  She teaches Life Sciences, English, Mathematics at St Thomas Secondary School.  She is married to Mark who is the Priest-in-Charge St Paul’s.  They have two children, Hannah and Joshua and a third in transit.
 
Nicholas Luffin is a graduate of Rhodes University where he read for a Bachelor of Music Degree, under the tutelage of Betty Shuttleworth (Mark’s grandmother), Daniella Heunis (flute) and Christopher Cockburn (organ).  He is currently Director of Music at St Paul’s Anglican Church.  He is also an educator at St Thomas Secondary School, where he teaches Creative Arts, Computer Applications Technology and Life Orientation.
 
 

REPERTOIRE

DVORAK
Slavonic Dance No. 8
Two Legends (1 and 2) Op. 59
 
J.C. BACH
Rondo

DEBUSSY
Ballet

FAURE
Mi-a-Ou (from Dolly Suite)

TCHAIKOVSKY
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

SAINT-SAëNS
Danse Macabre

MOSZKOWSKI
Three Spanish Dances

RACHMANINOV
Italian Polka

ARENSKY
Waltz, March

BRAHMS
Hungarian Dances Nos 5 & 6

CHAMINADE
Deux Pièces Romantiques

JOPLIN
Cleopha - March

VINCENT YOUMANS
Tea for Two (Arr. J. Louis Merkur)

ANDERSON
Sleigh Ride Fantasy
(Arr. Zach Heyde and Frank Tedesco)

TARREGA
Gran Vals
(Arr. Nicholas Luffin)

BENJAMIN GODARD
Marche Villageoise
Gavotte