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Music contingent plays South Africa
- William David and his fellow members of the Ames Piano Quartet have performed
throughout the world.
A couple of years ago, the Iowa State resident chamber ensemble even performed
in Cuba.
But nothing prepared David and the other Iowa State musicians for what they
experienced in South Africa.
"Cuba wasn't nearly as poor or desolate as South Africa," David said.
"In Cuba, the students we worked with had well trained music teachers
and, despite the poor equipment they had, the kids could really play the
string instruments and piano.
"In Cape Town there were very few decent instruments," he continued. "Most
of the students we worked with didn't know how to read music. The facilities
were pretty primitive."
The Ames Piano Quartet (David, Mahlon Darlington, George Work and Jonathan
Strum), together with two faculty in the Department of Music's vocal division,
Donald Simonson and Mary Creswell, were invited to perform concerts and
teach in Cape Town, South Africa.
The group spent two weeks in South Africa at the invitation of Simon Estes,
the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence. Estes accompanied
the six faculty on the trip and collaborated with them on a series of concerts.
The Iowa State contingent gave formal and informal concerts at the Simon
Estes High School for both students and the general public. Estes established
the school in 1993 and has passionately led efforts to sustain it in the
years since its founding.
"The choir there is spectacular. The kids have voices to die for,"
David said. "Most of the students attending there live in the townships
and it's at least an hour bus ride for them.
"Simon is absolutely loved there. He's a real father figure to many
of the students."
When the Iowa State group arrived at the Cape Town airport, the high school
choir was waiting for them and sang for Estes and the Iowa State group.
"The students were wonderful," David said. "They want to
learn everything you can teach them, and they want as much time from you
as possible."
In addition to teaching the students, the Iowa State contingent brought
along a large amount of music and other music supplies. They also handed
out Iowa State t-shirts.
The six music professors and Estes were featured in a benefit concert for
the high school in a Cape Town suburb. They also performed at St. George's
Cathedral in Cape Town, the home church of Bishop Desmond Tutu.
"We had the honor of meeting with Bishop Tutu. He introduced all of
us at the morning service that we attended at his church and joined us afterwards
for breakfast," David said
Around LAS
August 21 to September 3, 2006
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