Afo News Blog
Day 9: Hout Bay Music Project
As we turned the corner to the church in which we would have our evening performance we were greeted by many of the smiling and waving faces from the Hout Bay Music Project. They all seemed very excited to meet us and the feeling was mutual. After taking all of our things off the bus we joined the Hout Bay musicians for lunch and straight away both orchestras were talking and getting to know each other. Not long after we finished eating we all took to a near by field for some fun and games. There was Frisbee, Rugby, Football and Scottish dancing. The Hout Bay musicians even taught some of the girls some of their songs and dances. Everyone was smiling as this cultural exchange took place; it was quite a sight to see. After a few group photos we headed back into the hall to play some music. The rehearsal was in the form of a workshop, after playing the South African National Anthem together we split up into our different sections and learned some African tunes by ear. Then we all came back together to hear the complete arrangement. Before dinner the orchestra had a small gesture to offer the Hout Bay Music Project. Over the last few months before departing for our tour, one of our senior players Ciaran McHugh spent time raising money and buying items to put into gift packs for our orchestra to present to the Hout Bay Music Project. They were very well received and it was wonderful to...
Day 9: Table Mountain
Many had a long lie in, as we didn’t leave the hotel until 10 for Table Mountain. After the short drive we boarded the cable cars for the journey to the clouds. As this is exactly what we saw, clouds. Unfortunately for us visibility was low and the majority of what we could see were clouds, but it did clear long enough to snap a few pictures of the town below and vast ocean. After a trip to the Café and the gift shop we were all very happy but the best was yet to come. In true AFO fashion a ceilidh ensued at the top of the mountain. All other visitors and staff were thoroughly impressed with our energetic dancing and fast paced music. As it was a very special day for a very special person, as Mr G would say, we all sang Happy Birthday to Fraser Graham as he stood on top of a table on Table Mountain. The cable car back down had a slightly better view as the clouds began to clear, overall a good time was had by all, but this day was only half way through. We then travelled to Hout Bay....
Day 8: Cape Point and the Beach
It was a good start to the day; we all had a lovely breakfast before leaving for a day of sightseeing. We started at the Cape of Good Hope, for once again another group photo and a few laughs as people tried to climb over rocks to get as far out as they could go. I was walking next to Dave when we slipped and I had to pull him up, he also happened to be holding my camera at the time, luckily it was unharmed. As was Dave. Afterwards we drove round to Cape Point and made the climb to the top. The view was breath-taking and we even saw a Whale in the sea – well it wasn’t actually a Whale it was a rock but it could have been a whale. Then we saw an Elephant – well it wasn’t an elephant but it was a Dassie which is the closest relative to an elephant. Then we went to see the Penguins – don’t worry these were actually penguins. Our last stop was the beach. The weather was not great, the sun was hidden behind the clouds and wind had picked up. We had lunch in a lovely little café style restaurant right on the sea front before some brave people paddled in the water. I went in myself and I have to say it might have even been colder than the water back home. After a few ice creams we drove back to the hotel for some free time before dinner....
Day 7: Cape Town and the V & A Waterfront
After leaving the beach by the Wilderness hotel the buses left for Cape Town. It was another long trip but was split up by a few stops. For lunch most of the orchestra opted for some home comforts in the form of KFC. Which was delicious. The landscape on the road as we drove was beautiful and we often whipped out our cameras and leaned out the window to snap a few pictures. We even came across a few elephants in the distance. The on bus entertainment was much the same, with one exception. After a short discussion between Joely and myself she somehow challenged herself to see how long she could hold my foot and leg up for, and she was very determined. She managed to last one hour and 15 minutes. We were all quite impressed. We arrived in Cape Town just before dinner and had a few minutes in our rooms – which were lovely and had balconies with good views – before we jumped back on the bus and headed to the V and A Waterfront for dinner. Many other members of the orchestra and I ended up in a lovely Italian restaurant. The meal was lovely and I had a nice conversation with the owner about the orchestra and what we were doing there. Then after another group picture it was back to the best western for the night. A good nights sleep was needed for the busy day ahead....
Day 6: Wilderness Hotel
Our night’s accommodation for our pit stop on the way to Cape Town was the Wilderness Hotel Resort and Spa. This was a big step up from our ‘prison’ the previous two nights. We all tucked into a wonderful buffet before heading off to use the wifi and relax in our rooms for a while before bed. Or in my case watch X-Men. Then it was an early night as we were all very tired from the early rise. I managed to have a full 9 hours of sleep, which has greatly helped me to recover from my cold. After breakfast and packing the bus, we all walked down to the beach for a quick paddle in the ocean, a game of frisbee and to take a few pictures before we headed back to the buses for our drive to Cape Town. This was a great idea, enjoyed by all. Except when we had to get on the buses with sand in our shoes....
Day 6: Concert in George
We arrived in George and immediately went into a rehearsal for a concert. The venue was great, it was a massive open hall with hundreds of chairs and almost every single one was filled during our concert. We played a full set list with two halves, one half even showcased the premier of a new group consisting of David Moore, Niall McHugh, Fraser Graham and Andrew Spence playing some fantastic music which both the audience and the orchestra enjoying listening to for the first time. Everything went well and I even had a great conversation with a member of the audience during the interval who had nothing but praise for our musical talents, he also happened to be a double bass player himself, so we chatted for most of the break. At the end of the concert I also got to speak to the owners of one of the double basses that we borrow for the afternoon, they were wonderful people who told me all about the history of the bass itself and that it belonged to their son who was currently out of the country. In the past he had travelled with his orchestra and also borrowed double basses when he went so this was their chance to return the favour. I am happy to report that the orchestra are ever so slowly learning to smile during concerts and this has been the best so far, but we still have some way to go. If all concerts are a good as this one then I think we will have a lot to smile about. -Hannah (Photos are from a beautiful selection...Day 6: Travelling To George
The day started at 5:30! Breakfast at 6 and on the buses ready to leave by 7. As you can imagine the orchestra members were not overly happy about this yet remained in good spirits while on the bus. We made a few stops along the way to refuel – us not the buses – crisps, chocolate and ice cream seemed to be the snack of choice at the service station for our first stop. At our second stop burgers were on the menu for lunch as well as a short walk to see the bridge over the chasm. We took many pictures and made plenty of jokes about bungee jumping off it. However I was not joking and was fully prepared to jump if they had let me and so were numerous other people. Then it was back on the buses for the final journey to the venue for our afternoon performance at the church. On the buses entertainment was had in forms of card games, reading, singing and sleeping. Mainly sleeping after the ridiculously early start to the day. Hopefully we will have a long, deep sleep in the next hotel....
Day 5: Celebrating African Music
Our last evening in Grahamstown was spent in the audience for the same venue in which we had played just hours earlier. The music being showcased in this performance was very different from anything we had seen yet. It was a fantastic showcase of both music and dancing from the African Music Library. It was very uplifting and with AFO in the audience there was of course some participation, with hands clapping and singing along – when we could understand the words. The dancers were full of energy and had talent coming out of every muscle, we all watched with amazed eyes as they moved in perfect sync. The rest of the audience seemed to enjoy it as much as we did and joined in when AFO started a standing ovation. Many of the songs stuck in our heads for the rest of the night and much of the following morning. Some tour parents were even giving some of the dances a try too. It was a great experience into another culture and I am glad that I got to enjoy it with all of the AFO family. Even if I was full of the cold like so many other orchestra members fighting to stay awake not to splutter and cough though the performance. To find out more about the concert visit the festival website nationalartsfestival.co.za...
Day 4 and 5: National Arts Festival Performances
AFO performed 3 concerts for the National Music Festival in Grahamstown in the space of 16 hours, each of which was better than the one before. The audience loved every second of it, however the faces of the orchestra members would show otherwise as the review of a music critic stated in Saturday’s paper. The other double bass players and I did not bring our instruments with us so the festival arranged for some to be delivered for us. We came into the room to find four rather large crates being unscrewed. Our basses had been transported over from Johannesburg. They were of good quality and looked fantastic from an audience view. Hopefully they will meet is over in Johannesburg later in our tour. All the different types of music that we played went over very well. The fast reels and jigs had people clapping along, while the slow airs and laments I am sure had many people almost in tears. Our South African number Kwela was meet with cheers as the audience recognised the melody. The dancers also amazed the audience, as did our piper Andrew Spence. But the piece that had every laughing was the Hen Mairch Over the Midden, as Mr G and Douglas Clark clucked on stage. Many other of our tunes also had the some participation from the tour parents, as they waltzed and joined us on stage for Auld Lang Syne. ...
Day 4: Leaving Kariega for Grahamstown
Everyone was very sad as we waved to our guides from the buses and headed down the drive to the exit of Kariega Game Reserve. But we were on our way to our second stop of the tour. Arriving at our new accommodation everyone was very taken aback as the quality was somewhat down hill from the luxury we had at Kariega. For this we were not prepared. The camp beds turned out to be surprisingly comfortable, I personally slept like a rock. The showers were lovely and warm, well maybe too warm at times as it didn’t have a cold tap. The staff there were very friendly, especially when my roommates and I got locked out of our room – through no fault of our own, we were given the wrong key. The kitchen staff were equally accommodating, providing excellent service and they even very kindly prepared our dinner on our second night. With desert too. Overall our time at the high school accommodation was comfortable and we were well looked after by all the staff....
Review: Young fiddlers impress
Review from Cue, Newspaper of the National Festival of the Arts, Grahamstown Saturday 4 July Volume 29 No 3 Jeffrey Brukman Cue specialist writer “From lone bagpiper Andrew Spence’s first haunting reverie the stage was set for a celebration of Scottish (and a smattering of Irish) culture. Replete with references to national poet Robert Burns, some fine national dancing and a plethora of reels, jigs, slow airs, waltzes and marches, this concert showcased the best of Scotland’s fine young artistic talent. Irrepressibly enthusiastic conductor David Moore directed the youthful 80-strong orchestra with insight, precision and verve. His sensitive direction of My Love is like a Red, Red Rose, where spine-tingling vibrato intermingled with long-spun cello lines, highlighted the orchestra’s obvious appreciation for expressive music making. Likewise, the young players portrayed with poignant sophistication Neil Gow’s Lament for the death of my second wife. This was music-making from the top drawer. A homogenous group, this orchestra plays with studious concentration, a fine sense for ensemble, incisive bowing, tremendous fingerboard dexterity, and infectious rhythmical vitality. So it is surprising that more joyful abandon was not expressed in the players’ body language or facial expressions. All of the fast , intricate reels were played with clean phrasing, astounding accuracy for metrical detail and precise intonation, yet were mainly rendered without any obvious delight. However this did not detract from the intimate atmosphere that pervaded much o f this group’s performance, and a waltz composed for tour secretary Kathleen Terras produced a significantly poignant moment. Here, the music’s homophonic texture received transparent treatment with sensitive balancing of the underlying harmonies. Two references to...
Day 3: Kariega Game Drive Part 2
After our morning ride through the game reserve to see the animals we returned to the restaurant for brunch. I think it is safe to say this is some of the best food we have ever had on an AFO tour. After some free time, in which some brave people ventured into the freezing cold pools, we headed back onto the Jeep’s for see the other half of the game reserve. In this half we saw Zebra’s, Hippo’s and Giraffe’s. After a few more hours searching for these animals we all met up by a roaring fire for a few drinks and some snacks as the sun set over the hills. Our group and a few others then head back out after dark to see the night animals, and it did not disappoint. However the photos did, as it was a bit dark to see through the lens. The evening was very exciting, after a wonderful BBQ we had a ceilidh. The dance space might have been small but that did not stop us and some of the guides from dancing the night away. An early night was had by some while others, such as myself and the rest of my cabin mates, stayed up to watch Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. It was a nice chilled out end to the day. During our breakfast this morning we had some entertainment as the very talented cooks and other breakfast staff broke out into song. It was the first African music we have experienced since we arrived, and it was truly amazing. Even some members of the...
Day 3: We’re going on Safari
We met at 7:15 for a quick breakfast before we loaded on 10 Jeep’s and headed into the bush to see what animals we could find. “Wow” seemed to be the words on everyone’s lips as we saw Lions, Elephants, Rhinos and many more. The cameras were well in use as we all stopped to capture the moment and take in the surroundings. The view was once again extremely picturesque, with rolling hills and trees for miles. We stopped for a quick break to enjoy some tea, coffee, hot chocolate and muffins before continuing on our adventure. It was a very rocky journey as we drove up steep hills and through valleys to get over the 8000 acres of land, which hold many varieties of animals. During the morning ride our car got stuck in a ditch and my group all had to unload while our amazing guide Jo got us out of it. ...
Day 2: Welcome to Kariega Game Reserve
After three flights and two bus rides we finally made it to Kariega Game Reserve. On the way in we saw just a glimpse of what we would experience over our few days here, as animals ran across the hills and swam in a near by watering hole. We had a fantastic welcome from the staff here at Kariega, they helped unload all of our luggage from the bus and dropped them off at our rooms are we went to the restaurant for a few nibbles and an introduction to the reserve. The restaurant was beautiful, very open and relaxing, and to top it off an amazing view. The snacks went down well with the group and many people tried some South African delicacies. The chalets themselves were possibly even more amazing. Wood cabins with high ceilings, TV’s and three bathrooms, housed 6 per chalet. Some lucky people even had a pool. Once the remaining people arrived we all ate dinner together – even if it was after 10 o’clock. The meal was a delicious buffet which was thoroughly enjoyed by all especially after eating all that plane food. Then it was off to bed before an early start on game drives to see what animals we could find. ...
Day 1: We are heading to South Africa
On Tuesday the 30th of June we left from Heathfeild in two Dodds busses for Edinburgh airport with 96 people, all their luggage and instruments in tow. It was a long day but all members of the orchestra were very patient as we waited in queues for check-in, security and boarding the flights. Other customers on the plane were very nice and asked lots of questions about the sea of blue polo shirts, as too were the Virgin Atlantic staff. They also enjoyed the fabulous music that the orchestra provided mid flight, which was filmed by many. Overall it was a good experience and the food was good...
Tour Families
South Africa 2015 is going to be a very big tour in many ways, one of which is the amount of people travelling. We have 96 in total, comprised of orchestra members, parents, directors, dancers and mascots. To keep track of all these bodies we have Tour Families. Each family has a set of Tour Parents who look after 10 or so orchestra members. Tour Parents help us in so many ways, from making sure we drink enough water and using sun cream to taking pictures of us for Facebook. They are also the first point of call for any ailments. During our free time when we are able to go shopping or find food, and we often travel about together in our tour families, occasionally bumping into each other while out and about, most commonly at a fast food restaurant. No AFO trip seems to be complete without at least one visit to McDonald’s. We all seem to crave the home comfort. Or maybe it’s the addictive fries. On my first tour, my tour parents were Euan and Kathleen and this year I have come full circle and I am glad to say I have them back as my tour parents once again. South Africa look out Team Terras is coming for you!...
Annual Summer Concert 2015
Our annual summer concert is a ‘not to be missed’ event, and each year it just gets better and better and this year was no exception.
Recent Comments