KNYSNA NEWS - That's the title of a concert which took place in Knysna's Dutch Reformed Church Hall on Sunday afternoon 19 May. It was given by the George-based Carpe Musicam Orchestra & Choir. 

As always with Carpe Musicam (which means "Seize the Music") the concert title was only a hint of what was about to be heard.

Each item was a captivating adaptation of music by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn and others including the modern composers Paul Barker and Richard Rodgers. 

The original compositions are inspired, and the local adaptations make them even better. How about a rocked-up version of Beethoven's Für Elize with a solo played on tuba?

Carpe Musicam! is an orchestra with about 40 players and a choir of 50 singers, all locals from Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay, but that's only part of the story. Their driving force is to provide a safe, fun and educational environment for young (and not so young) local musicians to perform in public and improve their musical skills. The youngest member of the orchestra is a 10-year-old violinist! There were a number of soloists, some on unlikely instruments, including Knysna's Jolandie du Plessis on tuba. Find more details about what they do on their Facebook page at Carpe Musicam Orchestra.

For the audience, the real treat is to hear and enjoy live music, enthusiastically performed. This concert was no exception and a packed audience laughed at conductor Norman Carless's whacky introductions to what was about to be played and applauded long and hard after each item.

Carpe Musicam's next concert series Movies, Musicals… and Magic! is set for the weekend of 13,14 and 15 September, when it is planning to perform in George, Mossel Bay and Sedgefield. The audience will only know precisely what is on the programme as it is performed, but it will be sure to delight and entertain.

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