Pianist Hayley White is celebrating a lifetime of music prowess with a special recital, A Musical Journey, at the Guild Theatre on Thursday February 22.
The recital will also feature performances by local musical greats, Wesley and Lisa Wong, who will join White on trumpet and clarinet.
White grew up in a musical family and said that since then, her ears have always attuned to the beauty and creativity in music. She hopes the show conveys the depth and joy her lifelong connection to music has brought her.
“Towards the end of last year, I came across a piece that I had learned during my honours year at Stellenbosch (University), which I loved, and I realised that throughout my life I have learnt so many really beautiful pieces of music.
“I have been blessed with a talent from my Creator, which I believe needs to be shared with others and so the idea was born to do a recital where I could share some of these wonderful works with an audience.
“I bounced the idea off friends and family and received such encouragement I decided to go ahead,” White said.
White, who reveres the Romantic period, will be performing compositions by Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Saint-Saëns, Granados and others and woven into the show will be brief recollections about the composers.
The talented musician will also be sharing personal anecdotes from her musical journey, including pieces that have helped her get through tough periods in her life, such as the loss of her father.
“All the pieces I will play have been significant in my life for various reasons.
“I have a particular love of composers from the Romantic period and so the repertoire for my recital will be unashamedly biased in their favour.
“The live experience of seeing and hearing someone perform negates the necessity of needing to be familiar with the music before the concert.”
White is eager to share the stage with the Wongs and says both are top class performers she believes will bring out the beauty in the pieces.
She said: “I have the utmost respect for them as musicians.
“They were the natural choice to help me achieve this, and both were graciously willing. We get on very well, so it is easy to perform together.”
A Musical Journey will take place at the Guild Theatre on Thursday, February 22 at 7pm, lasting about one hour.
Tickets can be obtained from 079-496-0354. Ticket prices are R100 for adults and R50 for pensioners and pupils.
