Christmas concert with Carpe Musicam! and the whole tutti

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - This December's "Christmas Around the World" concerts are a dream come true for the Garden Route-based music performance NPO, Carpe Musicam!

Looking back at the last two December concerts - during lockdown and post-pandemic, CM! will be going big with a full orchestra, a youth orchestra and Roots4Rhythm addition to the family.

The concerts are scheduled for 16 December at the George Civic Centre at 19:00 and 18 December at 18:00 at Laminin Agora Celebration Venue, on the R328 near Hartenbos.

Youth Orchestra

The recently formed CM! Youth Orchestra will take the stage for the first time as a stand-alone performing entity. They will lead the first section of the performances on their own, give a performance with the Roots4Rhythm Marimba group*, and perform as accompanists for two amazing young people who are living with rather serious disabilities.

The second section of the performances will feature the CM! Orchestra and Choir. The virtuoso interpretation of We Three Kings for violin solo and orchestra, with violinist Cherith Bain, has to be experienced to be believed. Mary Did you Know? gets extremely tender and soulful treatment from the orchestra, choir and violin obbligato.

Cellist Sue Fawcett will be adding a unique sound to the orchestra with her selection of medieval instruments.

"The concerts are a definite must for all who enjoy the music of Christmas. The presentation is breezy, light and humour-filled, and a high percentage of the audience are repeat attendees," said CM! director and orchestra conductor Norman Carless.

Seats are limited to 500 per concert, with big-screen imaging as a feature, thanks to sponsorship by Baasraak Productions. Tickets are available at www.carpemusicam.co.za or cash at the door.

Tickets cost R150 (adults) and R50 (under 18s). Refreshments and cash bar will be available at Laminin Agora, and guests are welcome to bring their own picnic-style refreshments to the George concert.

* Roots4Rhythm is a project run by Lasya Botes through which she provides music tuition to young people, especially those with special needs. Botes also sings in the CM! Choir and can be seen "spreading fairy dust" and "rattlin' the bones" on her glockenspiel and xylophone during performances.

December 2021: last year's Christmas concert with the CM! Boutique Band, a small choir and Youth Ensemble.