Play it again! We Recycle, Do You?

2022-02-18T19:37:31+02:0028 September 2017|Categories: Live Music, Music for Events, Performance Updates|Tags: , |

Recycling was the theme of this event for Coca Cola’s school recycling awards sponsorship. Various schools and communities demonstrated out-of-the-box creativity on how to re-use and up-cycle waste materials found in their environment. In keeping with the up-cycling theme, I brought along my Tin Can violin which is made solely from reclaimed materials and yet plays like real violin. To complete the look I had a dress made up with hand-cut plastic bag trim. It was such a pleasure to meet some of the kids who are changing mindsets in their communities about waste.

The day ended on a poignant note though, as I was pulling out of the inner-city venue, thinking about outfits made from reclaimed materials, my eye spotted a homeless man just outside the venue, wearing nothing but 3 plastic bags…for some, recycling is not a choice.

My Tin Can Violin is a one of a kind instrument made […]

Birthday Broadcast

2022-02-18T19:37:51+02:0025 August 2017|Categories: Broadcast, Live Music, Music for Events|Tags: , |

Chatting violins, orchestras and Stradivarius plus a surprise performance of happy birthday for the broadcast host Gareth Cliff at Cliff Central. You can catch the interview here:

http://cliffcentral.com/gcs/gcs-25-8-17-pt3/

The figure in the photos was actually the birthday cake made by Crystal Du Preez at Sensational Suga – and the head actually bobbled!

Married at First Sight Shoot.

2022-02-18T19:38:01+02:001 August 2017|Categories: Live Music, Music for Events, Music for Weddings, Performance Updates|Tags: , |

A wedding with a difference today, I’m on set to film a wedding for the Reality Show ‘Married at First Sight’.
I can’t say too much about today as the show will only be aired in October this year, but for now I can share the beautiful setting at Faircity Roodevlei overlooking the river.

As Unique as a Snowflake

2022-02-18T19:37:56+02:0010 July 2017|Categories: Live Music, Music for Events, Music for Weddings|Tags: , , |

On arriving at the Snowflake building in Potchefstroom this weekend, I was convinced I was at the wrong address. Being early to set up for a violin wedding performance at this venue, there was only one other car in the dusty parking lot, but the place otherwise looked like a derelict building. Plucking up the courage to speak to the occupants of the other car, I realised that I was at the right place and that appearances can be deceiving. The Snowflake building is an old flour mill turned venue that has character around every corner. It is delightfully quirky and hasn’t tried to hide it’s industrial past.

After the ceremony we managed to sneak in a few photos ourselves of this unique venue.

https://www.snowflakevenue.com/

Music Makes a Difference

2022-02-18T19:38:09+02:007 July 2017|Categories: Live Music, Music for Events, Performance Updates|Tags: , |

As a performer one doesn’t often hear the audience stories behind the scenes of a show. At a recent lunchtime regular performance this last week, the concert co-coordinator told me these two lovely stories about how music can make a difference to people’s lives:

Kristel, thank you so much for today. One of our regular guests said she had sunk into depression over the past few weeks, but after your performance today, felt uplifted and able to carry on. Another rather fragile guest comes to the lunchtime performances only when he knows you are performing. You bring light.

More touching than the applause after a show and more sustaining than the fee for performing a show are words like this that show music can touch people’s lives for the better!

A Winter Wedding

2022-02-18T19:38:15+02:004 July 2017|Categories: Live Music, Music for Weddings, Performance Updates|Tags: , , |

Dear Kristel
You are one of a kind. Thank-you for everything, my friends and family can’t stop talking about you. You made matrimonial event so special and I am thankful for that.

-Bride July 2017

There is a stark beauty to a winter wedding. Crisp blue skies and warm oranges and reds gave warmth and colour to this wedding event at Midrand Conference Centre. This was a wedding with a difference, as the couple had already tied the knot in a court wedding 20 years ago, they felt their 20th anniversary would be the wedding ceremony they could not afford when they were younger. It was a wonderful day and brides are beautiful at any age.

A Walk in the Forest

2022-02-18T19:38:20+02:0012 May 2017|Categories: Live Music, Music for Weddings, Performance Updates|Tags: , |

As autumn begins to turn the leaves and drop temperatures, wedding events begin to trail off, but recently I performed for a wedding at an enchanting venue called ‘In the Forest’.

Imagine being on set filming a movie like Robin Hood or something along those lines, that is what this venue looks like. The ceremony was held under the trees with guest seated on hay bales. The reception was also under the tree canopy with twinkling fairly lights strung up. Oh so romantic!

http://www.intheforest.co.za/

Electric Violin and Cello in Concert

2022-02-18T19:38:46+02:007 November 2016|Categories: Live Music, Performance Updates|Tags: , |

The stately Northwards House in Parktown hosts regular classical concerts. The beautiful Sir Herbert Baker Home has a lovely acoustic and an inviting music room that takes one back in time. This as the backdrop for a concert I did with cellist Carel Henn a few weeks ago. Our first half repertoire consisted of a sonata for solo cello and violin and other adapted classical works for a duo format.

We had a surprise though for the second half. As not much repertoire is arranged for solo cello and violin, we decided to arrange some contemporary light songs for the duo and then to perform them on electric instruments.

The audience were delighted by the contrast and a favourite on the day was Sting’s “Fragile”

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