Updating!

I've been rather backward in keeping the blog up to date and I notice that 6 months has flown past since my last posting. It's been quite hectic for me - various concerts, rehearsals, organising fund raising for the purchase of a new Kawai grand piano for the Swellendam High School, various Bahá'í activities, bookkeeping jobs, teaching etc. etc. In the last few months it has been necessary to get down to some heavy practising for a solo recital at the new concert venue, Wahnfried, in McGregor on 2nd December. I have resuscitated my old programme called "Sylvia Schulman Plays Piano Music for You (from W.A. Mozart to Billy Mayerl)" which I have not played for several years. It consists of 15 pieces with a fair amount of talking in between, sometimes linking different pieces by a common denominator, but generally giving some interesting information about them and/or the composers. Then I decided to present the programme as one of the Country Classics series in Swellendam, this time at my house, a week beforehand. For singing and flute the acoustics here are not good because the room has wall-to-wall carpeting; so we have used other venues for the Country Classics concerts which have been with Marcelle Volckaert, soprano, Brad Liebl, baritone and Chris Nicholls, flute. However, the acoustic is satisfactory for piano so it is very convenient for me to do the solo recital on my own piano! On 9th December Brad Liebl and I will be giving a recital in Barrydale - that lovely drive from Swellendam through the beautiful Tradouws Pass - which includes a Christmas Fantasia on a Theme of Debussy, arranged by Brad Liebl. Going forward into next year, Brad and I will be performing at Wahnfried on 10th February, the programme for which will include songs by Wagner and Verdi as 2013 is the 200th Anniversary of their birth. Later in the year, as near winter as possible, we will do a recital in Barrydale to include some of Die Winterreise of Schubert at the request of our hosts, Tim Teale and Clive Strawbridge. Marcelle Volckaert and I will also be performing in Barrydale with  Turina and Berlioz song cycles. No doubt these recitals will also be presented in Swellendam.

Advertising in South Courant

I have been running an advert for my piano lessons in the South Courant, Swellendam, which has attracted more enquiries than any other advertising so far. This is what it says:

PIANO LESSONS

Do you long to play the

piano? Do you need to brush

up on your playing? Do you

have a musically gifted child

10 years or older?

Teenagers and adults

Technique

Interpretation

Performance peparation

Exam preparation

Look no further!....

....except at my blog:

www.swellendampiano.blogspot.com

Book now for an appointment

and interview

Contact:

SYLVIA SCHULMAN

Tel: 028 514 2904

Cell: 082 855 0534

Email: sylbenat@futurejhb.co.za

Concert at Wildbraam with Dr. Brad Liebl

This was a recital on 22nd January 2010 with Dr. Brad Liebl, the well-known baritone who is professor of singing at the College of Music, University of Cape Town. As you see, I am accompanying and also played some solo pieces. It took place at Wildebraam, the Berry Farm in the Hermitage, Swellendam. Brad is a wonderful singer and I was thrilled to work with him. Before I went to Johannesburg in 1997 I had played for him both for his students whilst he was teaching and for a recital in Picketberg. We are hoping to repeat this concert at other venues.

Master Class, Swellendam High School

Who would have thought that a piano master class could be held in this small but historic and beautiful town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa? But this is what is going to happen at the Swellendam High School on 10th September 2010. The students who are preparing to take the UNISA Grade VIII piano exam will be playing a range of interesting pieces from Bach to Shostakovitch and I shall be there to help them improve their performances primarily from the point of view of musicality and interpretation, also suggesting adjustments in technique where necessary. To be in a position to nurture musical talent is very exciting and a great privilege. The event will be open to the public.

Concert at Wildebraam, Swellendam, Friday 15th October

The next concert at Wildebraam will be on Friday 15th October featuring a song recital by Marcelle Volckaert. I shall be accompanying her and playing some solos. The notice from Wildebraam went out to their email list today. The programme will be announced later. Tickets are R140 for the recital and dinner, R100 without the dinner. Phone Wildebraam to book: 028 514 3132