Listen to your life, and find stillness. A groundbreaking workshop for the very busy.

More info

Duration: three hours / Cost: R 220

(Discounted rate of R 800 for booking all four)

Dates for Creative Contact workshops :

1. Practicing movement and stillness

Sunday 26 May 2013, 10h – 13h.

2. Holding fullness and emptiness

Sunday 30 June 2013, 10h – 13h.

3. Feeling pattern and rhythm.

Sunday 28 July 2013, 10h – 13h.

4. Being closed, being open.

Sunday 25 August 2013, 10h – 13h.

You will receive a list of recommended materials.

Reservation essential for catering!

Bonfires & Live Music by Dusty Moon. 35 minutes drive from JHB Northern suburbs. Outdoor family event. Supervised Entertainment for children. Refreshments & hot winter foods will be on sale.

Book at Computicket! www.computicket.com

Designated drivers enter free of charge.

Price: Adults: R88 @ Computicket or R100 at the door. Children R15 

Enquiries: festival@cellarrats.co.za   /  www.WineFestival.co.za / 0825712753

Following on the successes of the previous four Online Retailing Conferences, Trade Conferences International once again brings retailing professionals a follow up event – the 5th Online Retailing Conference, an event that features an all new programme and updated topics.

By global standards, the e-commerce platform in South Africa is small, but online retail sales have shown a steady increase over the past five years as timid shoppers take a back seat and a growing number of techno-savvy consumers turn to the Internet.

]]> http://www.whatsupjozi.com/jozicalendar/event/online-retailing-growth-in-jozi/feed/ 0 http://www.whatsupjozi.com/jozicalendar/event/double-bill-theatre-comedy-night/ http://www.whatsupjozi.com/jozicalendar/event/double-bill-theatre-comedy-night/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 05:47:49 +0000 Princess http://www.whatsupjozi.com/jozicalendar/?post_type=event&p=2512 The Plat4orm presents a Double Bill Theatre Comedy Night.

Two Nights Only! The Fake Zulu Maiden is performed and written by Nonkuluko Mthethwa. It tackles how society questions whether she’s sure she’s Zulu, because of the way she speaks, acts and thinks. Her answer has always been “Well have you seen my bum”.

Clown For Hire is about a clown who lives on the streets of Johannesburg dreaming of performing his one man circus show. Unfortunately, no one has time for a clown in Johannesburg. He makes it his duty to entertain the unwilling public.

Trombonist Steve Turre of the Juilliard School of Music, New York, has played and recorded with many artists around the world. These include Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Roland Kirk, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Charles, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Carlos Santana, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Mingus Big Band, JJ Johnson and hundreds of others, but his most iconic performances were probably with Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra where he shot to prominence on both trombone and shells. He has won the Down Beat Readers’ poll five times as Best Trombonist and has enthralled audiences with his performances on different sized conch shells. Turre is an innovative musician and composer who keeps one foot in the past and one in the future. He adds zest to the Awesome Big Band, and his solo show is supported by a strong line-up compromising Marcus Wyatt (Trumpet), Bokani Dyer (piano), Hein van de Geyn (bass) and Kevin Gibson (drums).

One of the sell-out trademarks of the Jazz Festival in Grahamstown is the Awesome Big Band – a unique selection of top international jazz musicians in a standard Big Band format. A band of this nature is also known as a Jazz Orchestra for the dynamic and harmonic depth and contrast that arrangers can produce from 17 instruments, reminiscent of Classical orchestras but with the added power and energy that jazz exudes. This year’s band is conducted by Canadian trumpeter Bruce Cassidy, renowned for his quirky, powerful arrangements.

Regular audiences at the National Arts Festival will recognise Frank Sinatra & Friends as a sequel to the series of earlier successes that have been conceptualised and conducted by maestro, Richard Cock. In 2011, Andrew Lloyd Webber & Friends sold out within days of opening bookings. In 2012, Louis Armstrong & Friends (2012) was presented in a larger venue and once again, the sold out show meant that a number of music enthusiasts had to be turned away. In 2013, Frank Sinatra & Friends will have two perfor mances. In this concert, Nic Nicolaidis and Zwai Bala accompanied by the notable KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra will serenade audiences with melodies such as Fly me to the moon, I’ve got you under my skin, Fascinating Rhythm, Unforgettable and of course the singularly popular Sinatra signature song, My way.

AJ Brown is a young singer and saxophonist from Britain who is rapidly gaining a popular reputation around Britain. He has performed at the Wigan International Jazz Festival and Birdland Club in New York amongst others and was guest vocalist for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in Britain. He has quickly mastered the tunes of the great crooners like Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé and Nat King Cole and has begun producing his own compositions, which are eagerly received. He performs in Grahamstown with Kingsley Buitendag (piano), Gorm Helfjord (guitar), Romy Brauteseth (bass), and Kevin Gibson (drums).

Justin Binek is the Head of Vocal Jazz Studies at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and maintains an active jazz and classical performing schedule as a singer, pianist, and clinician/adjudicator. He is a prolific arranger and composer and performs in Europe and the US. Paulien van Schaik studied voice at the jazz department of the Conservatory of Utrecht and Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has performed across Europe and in Japan and China. With their tasteful backing band, comprising Jason Reolon (piano), Ola Bengtsson (guitar), Shaun Johannes(bass), and Lloyd Martin (drums); their Vocal Celebration should prove heavenly!

Van Schaik also presents a show with fellow Dutch performer Hein Van de Geyn. Both musicians are on top of their game – masters of their instruments in a context so subtle the audience is spellbound. The critics agreed: “Hein and Paulien have stripped the music of all its frills. A courageous couple, for there is nothing to disguise them. Their interaction is of an ethereal beauty. This must be how angels sing.” Their second recording won an Edison Prize (Dutch Grammy Award). Cape Town percussionist Ronan Skillen joins them as guest.

This year will also see the establishment of the Standard Bank Jazz & Blues Cafe at the Lowlander, St. Andrew’s College, which will end each night with a great jazz show and a late night jazz jam session or blues gig – a place where audiences can catch musicians letting off steam and butting musical heads late into the night, featuring the likes of Nduduzo Makhathini, saxophonist Dan Shout, Lee Thomson, Imbaula, and the Rick van Heerden Quartet.

The 39^th edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown will take place from 27 June to 7 July 2013.

For more information check www.standardbankarts.co.za or www.youthjazz.co.za

The Standard Bank Jazz Festival is presented with support funding from:

Institut Français, the French Institute of South Africa and the Alliance Française
Paul Bothner Music
ProHelvetia
Royal Netherlands Embassy
Royal Norwegian Embassy
SAMRO
Swedish Arts Council / Swedish Jazz Federation / Mary Lou Meese Youth Jazz Fund
Jamey Aebersold Jazz

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press and M Net.

Hailing from Brakpan on the East Rand, 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music, Runette Botha, made her professional début at the Royal Albert Hall, performing in a gala concert alongside José Carreras and Kiri te Kanawa. She has also performed the Erwin Stein arrangement of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony at King’s Place with Trevor Pinnock and Mahler’s Second Symphony at Cadogen Hall, and has been a member of the Staatstheater Kassel Opera Studio since 2011. She obtained a MA (Opera) at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She had previously studied at the University of Cape Town as a student of Professor Virginia Davids, after initially obtaining a BCom Accounting degree at RAU (now the University of Johannesburg). Accompanied by Audrey Hyland, she will showcase her immense vocal ability in a performance comprised of works covering 3 decades of composers: Händel, Obradors, Strauss, Berlioz, Verdi, Rakhmaninov, Bernstein, Britten and Refice.         

The 2013 Gala Concert celebrates the music of Verdi, (b 1813), Wagner (b 1813), Mascagni (b 1863), Britten (b 1913) and artist/musician, Gerard Sekoto (b 1913). Starting off with the Grand March from Aida and ending with Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance March No 1, the concert will include arias by Puccini and Gounod, sung by soprano Runette Botha (2013 SBYA for Music), and Ben Schoeman (2011 SBYA) playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; as well as music by Strauss and Stoltz. Conductor extraordinaire Richard Cock will take audiences on an explosive musical journey of celebration with the KZNPO and these two celebrated and talented young artists.

The Odeion String Quartet was established at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1991 as a permanent fulltime resident string quartet, and is the only resident string quartet at a South African university. Samson Diamond, 2010 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music was appointed as first violin and leader of the Odeion String Quartet in January this year. Their Hidden Treasures is a project comprising compositions by contemporary composers; namely Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, and John Tavener; who are regarded as the most influential composers in the genre of minimalism.

Roddy the Rambunctious Rhino, Horace the Hysterical Hyena, Mafutha the Elephant, Lucas the Lazy Lion, Harry the Hungry Hadeda and many other beautiful creatures will come to life in a concert specially commissioned for children. These wonderful characters will be introduced by Ed Jordan and Nicholas Nicolaidis and their rhythmic music will have toes tapping and fingers snapping long after the concert ends. Under the baton of Richard Cock, the KZNPO offer a fun-filled concert where you will hear the songs and stories of Beautiful Creatures who live in South Africa and who need our love and protection.

Regular audiences at the National Arts Festival will recognise this concert as a sequel to the series of earlier successes that have been conceptualised and conducted by Richard Cock. In 2011,Andrew Lloyd Webber & Friends sold out within days of opening bookings. In 2012, Louis Armstrong & Friends (2012) was presented in a larger venue and once again, the sold out show meant that a number of music enthusiasts had to be turned away. In 2013, Frank Sinatra & Friends will have two performances. In this concert, Nic Nicolaidis and Zwai Bala accompanied by the notable KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra will serenade audiences with melodies such as Fly me to the moon, I’ve got you under my skin, Fascinating Rhythm, Unforgettable and of course the singular ly popular Sinatra signature song, My way.

A percentage of proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Theatre Benevolent Fund, a registered South African charity founded and administered by caring arts professionals to provide a reasonable standard of care and comfort to those performers who find themselves incapacitated and destitute by virtue of their illness.

After two successful years of presenting sold out performances of Conduct Unbecoming at the National Arts Festival, Richard Cock will team up with former orchestra player, Bryan Clarke, in a sequel that will unravel even more stories from the amazing world of conductors and musicians. As a percussionist, Bryan Clarke tells the stories from the player’s side that is not always complimentary about conductors. In an orchestra with only one percussionist, two of South Africa’s most entertaining music celebrities will enthral their audience with anecdotes, music and insights into why the conductor has the advantage of not seeing the audience.

The Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture’s Jazz at Dakawa strives to offer a platform for Eastern Cape Community jazz groups to be a part of the National Arts Festival. The vibrant programme showcases community-based jazz groups from the seven Provincial districts in a platform that provides the artists with adequate exposure to allow their work to be seen outside of their own communities, embodying the celebrating social cohesion, so present in South African music.

Ben Schoeman was the winner of the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Music. He is regarded as one of South Africa’s foremost pianists and won major prizes, and given solo, chamber music and concerto performances throughout Europe, Canada and South Africa; and presents a solo recital of works by Haydn, Schumann, Wagner, Liszt, and Reddy.

Cellist Anzél Gerber and Schoeman were the overall winners of the Ibla Grand Prize Competition in Italy (2012). They were hailed by the press as “an impressive duo” and praised for their “superb artistry” and “intimate rapport”. Their programme includes some of the pinnacles of the vast repertoire for cello and piano, with the main work Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19. In this Sonata the two instruments are very much on the same level and it often happens that the piano introduces important thematic material before the cello embellishes upon this.

The South African National Youth Orchestra training pathway has been created to nurture the musical development of South Africa’s finest young musicians, from emerging gifted school-age students to those on the verge of a professional career. They present a concertconducted by Gérard Korsten, and featuring Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber – Paul Hindemith; Symphony No. 7 -Antonín Dvoøák ; and the premiere of a work by Robert Fokkens commissioned specially by the SAMRO Foundation.

After their spellbinding performances last year, the Chanticleer Singers return to the Festival to celebrate the Centenary of the birth of Benjamin Britten and 400 years since the death of Carlo Gesualdo, whose life was so full of drama and passion. The Britten programme includes some of his earliest choral works, written when he was 17, to one of his final works, the large scale Sacred and Profane, set to medieval texts. Harpist for the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, Linor Steinhausen, joins the choir for Ceremony of Carols.  In their second programme which will be performed by candlelight, The Chanticleer Singers expose two contrasting Renaissance composers: Palestrina representing the conservative ecclesiastical side, and Gesualdo, whose music imitates his life in its drama and colour.

The music programme will also feature the ever-popular Symphony Concert featuring the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the East Cape Philharmonic Orchestra’s Pops Concert directed by Richard Cock, a series of concerts by KZN Ensembles, and the extensive Jazz programme. 

The 39^th edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown will take place from 27 June to 7 July 2013.

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press and M Net.

This Festival has a distinctly laid back atmosphere. The scenic setting, looking over the Magaliesberg mountain range, adds to the general ambiance.

The Festival this year marries Craft Beer with exquisite local produce. Pairing breweries and local food is the enviable task of food sensation- master chef David Brown and Anton Erasmus of South African Breweries.

The Solstice Festival acknowledges the sponsorship of SAB’s World of Beer, and the ongoing support for the Craft Brew industry. This sector is growing every year, and the result is exceptional quality and variety.

Bring your taste buds to a festival of taste and flavour. The best food and craft beer in the Magaliesberg region on offer on 22 June, the Winter Solstice.