French youth orchestra in Bay

A YOUTH orchestra from the French island of Reunion is heading to Port Elizabeth, where it will perform in a series of concerts at schools in the city. The Orchestre Concertina, whose members range in age from seven to 17, will arrive in the Bay on Sunday.

Pearson High School parent Susan Coetzer said the visit, until next Thursday, was the second part of a cultural exchange between Reunion and South Africa.

"The first part took place in September and October last year, when the Pearson High School Concert Band undertook a two-week tour to Reunion," Coetzer said.

Band members and their families will now supply accommodation to the visiting orchestra while in the city.

The group would be made up of 39 young musicians and 13 accompanying adults, she added.

The public may attend a concert by Orchestre Concertina, hosted by Victoria Park High School, on Tuesday at 7pm. VP's jazz band will perform alongside the visiting orchestra.

Orchestre Concertina will also perform for pupils at Pearson High School and at Summerwood Primary during school hours.

Led by conductor Pierre Varo, the orchestra makes use of an unusual variety of instruments such as accordions, violins, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and drums. And, since this is a French group, the accordion plays a particularly important role in their concerts.

The orchestra is based at a music school in the town of St André, on the eastern side of Reunion.

This island is situated in the Indian Ocean, about 200km southwest of Mauritius, the closest landmass. Varo is the conductor of both Orchestre Polyphonia, the senior orchestra, and Orchestre Concertina, for juniors.

Tickets for Tuesday night's concert at VP are R30 for adults, R20 for children and pensioners, and will be available at the door. For more information, contact Susan Coetzer on 082-781-2428. - Louise Liebenberg