Women in concert

The annual Vice-Chancellor's Concert had a twist to it this year. Yes, the usual symphony of musical genres was showcased, delivered with the usual zip and style by students from the South African College of Music (SACM). But in keeping with the year's theme celebrations, the lion's share of performers at last week's two concerts were women. The talents included Women and Winds Sax Quartet (the name says it all, doesn't it?); a yet-to-be-named drumming group made up of SACM students and lecturer Dizu Plaatjies, one of just a handful of men on the stage over the two evenings; pianist Inge Evert; a score of sopranos, tenors, baritones and one mezzo-soprano from the opera programme; and Women's Work, a jazz group under the leadership of Abigail Petersen that blends African, Latin and swing sounds. The pièce de résistance, though, was the 50-or-so-strong - we lost count - Massed Marimba Band, amassed and led by UCT graduate Ross Johnson, lead drum-thumper of famed Marimba band amaAmbush. The Massed Marimba Band (in picture) features young school learners from, among others, Herschel, St Cyprians, St Josephs, Pinelands and Wynberg Girls' High School.