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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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”
Colourful floaty dresses in silk and chiffon were on display at the Secret Room’s launch of the new summer range at Bryanston’s Riverside Shopping Centre. Each dress has been thoughtfully designed and made. The fabrics are high quality and imported.
It was a feast for the eyes to perform violin at this launch event with ladies whirling around the shop in various dress options! I have my eye on a few too. Visit them online at http://www.thesecretroom.co.za/
A special fund-raiser event that raised money for Anti-Rhino Poaching initiatives that was held at Kyalami Theatre on Track 15 October featured many talents to delight the guest. Fine artists’ work and photography was on sale. Musicians Samantha Peo, Andre Schwart, Saranti Rheerders, Kristel Birkholtz on violin in The Bubble and Rory Gaddin on guitar entertained the guests.
http://TheBubbleLive.com
The Mercedes Benz Long Service Awards was a touching event to sing and perform violin for. One particular prize-winner told this story as the highlight of his career. As part of a manufacturing plant for Mercedes Benz back in 1993, he and the other workers were excited about the upcoming release from prison of Nelson Mandela. They decided as a group to build a red Mercedes Benz for him upon his release. Without extra pay the workers added an additional hour to their working day in which to complete the car. This man has since stayed on at Mercedes Benz and worked in much higher positions. I was struck by how much a difference one’s actions can make, no matter how humble your station may be.
The lovely new range of L’Atelier de Givenchy fragrances had a very special launch in Sandton City this August. An engraver was on hand to personalise any perfume bottles or lipsticks bought at the launch. This was a wonderful touch and many customers bought gifts for friends or themselves that they could personalise. To add some ‘fragrance’ to the air, I was asked to play some mood setting violin music to entertain the customers while choosing their perfect perfume or having their names engraved.