Settlers steps into spring with style
Music, poetry and Scottish dance thrill audience
There was a musical feast at Settlers Park on Sunday, as the Port Alfred retirement complex held their held their annual spring concert.
Choirs, solos and piping to accompany traditional Scottish dancing and poetry made for a variety of entertainment for an enthusiastic audience in the packed Don Powiss Hall.
Piper Graham Martens led the Scottish country dancers in to open the event with Wind on Loch Fyne and Postie’s Jig.
Keeping with the Scottish theme, the Spring Choir stepped up for their first number, Paul McCartney’s Mull of Kintyre.
The Spring Choir is conducted by retired opera singer Pauline Brown, a spinto soprano, originally from the UK but now living in Settlers Park.
The ensemble is a full fourpart choir, all retired, who went on to perform a selection of beautiful pieces.
“Most of the choir members don’t live in Settlers,” event organiser Gwynn Crothall said.
“Some come from Kenton, and give themselves selflessly to the choir. One of them is 90 years old!”
Also a hit were The Lost Chords, a men’s singing group.
Also trained by Brown, they meet once a week.
“They sing mainly for fun, but also for worthy causes,” Crothall said.
Meryl Baker and Margie Laing performed the piano duets, Witches’ Flight by HM Russell and Imps’ Revels by Theo Bonheur. Rob and Gwynn Crothall duetted on Lerner & Loewe’s I Remember it Well; and Rob Crothall sang Leonard Cohen’s iconic Hallelujah.
Richard Laing delighted with three accordion pieces, and the
Kowie Foundation School grade 1s were a breath of fresh air with their choral verse performance of The Worm.
Tenor Thembani Matika wowed the audience with The Prayer and Time to Say Goodbye and The Lost Chords sealed a memorable afternoon with the Paul McCartney anthem,