Young players in a violin, viola, cello concert

Sasa Majuma
Correspondent | Monday April 18, 2011 00:00

Most of the violin, viola and cello players who took part in this concert are students of the maestro strings player Gudrun Weeks. Weeks has been a music teacher in Gaborone for many years and has taught a considerable number of students who have become quite excellent musicians.

The show was kicked off by Weeks herself on viola and Volker Keding on cello playing Kunst der Fuge (Art of the Fugue) Contrapunktus V by Bach. This was a taste of things to come as a number of the students played solos, and others played in trios. 

The students were accompanied on piano by the superb pianist Renee Ferrera; but there were two performances, that of Shaheen Abkenari and Kaelo Moahi in which the piano accompaniment was by two talented young people, Michele Luiz (who also played viola in the concert), and Andrew Williams respectively.

The show, whilst not as well attended as one would have liked, was testament to the talent that Botswana has and which in my opinion, requires more nurturing and support. I am no expert on classical music, but I thoroughly enjoyed the music on the menu, from Mozart Trio in F and G Major (Natasha Ferrera, Bahumi Jansen and Iva Pistalovic [cello]); Bayley's Long Ago (Stephanie Sakuhuni and Kaelo Moahi); Bach Minuet in C (Stefanie Tsalwa and Renee Ferrera); Baklanova 'Mazurka' in D Major (Lebakwe Rabasha and Renee) Joplin's Entertainer (Shaheen Abkenari and Michele Luiz); the Seitz 3rd Movement from Concerto No. 5 Allegro played by Isabelle and Renee; Vivaldi 3rd Movement from Concerto in A Minor (Natasha Ferrera and Renee);  Tchaikovsky's Serenade (Kaelo and Andrew Williams); Peruvian tune Stars, No Moon (Michele Luiz and Renee); Ashoka Farewell (Oscar Musowoya); Kember trio for 2 violins, viola and piano (Pavithra Tirumalai, Kaelo Moahi, Michele Luiz, Andrew Williams); to the grand finale played by the String Ensemble - Bach Brandenberg Concerto No. 3. There is something to be said for listening to a strings ensemble with violins, violas and cello all playing in concert!

This was simply superb playing and demonstration of talent by Pavithra, Kaelo, Natasha on violins; Weeks, Michele, Oscar on viola; and Volker and Margaret Taylor on celli. I found myself not knowing which was better - to close my eyes and let the music wash over me or to watch the artistry of the musicians as I listened. It was a truly memorable concert, and Gaborone could do with more.