A rare musical treat comes to town

VRYHEID’S music lovers are in for a rare treat this weekend. Singer Jo-Nette Le Kay and pianist Marten van Wyk will be performing here, on Saturday at 6:00pm at Lancaster Lodge, and on Sunday at the Hervormde Kerk, corner Deputation and Afrikaner streets, at 10:00am.

Marten van Wyk voltooi sy studies as Uitvoerende Pianis, aan die Noord-Wes Universiteit in 2004 onderleiding van B Swart. Marten tree gereeld op as solisenbegeleier. In 2003 ontvang Marten ‘n uitnodiging na Engeland on verderte studeer onder Bryce Morrison aan die Royal College of Music.

Jo-Nette le Kay has a long CV in music with her debut to the professional stage as Second Lady in Mozart’s Magic flute. After studying a Licentiate in Singing at the University of Stellenbosch in 2000, she additionally started working with the well-known South African mezzo soprano Jean Stuart.

Jean taught her the Italian Bel Canto style of singing, and helped develop her voice into that of a dramatic coloratura soprano.

Ms Le Kay spent two years in London where she gained experience performing with Hamstead Garden Opera and Opera Integra, singing in productions Madame Butterfly, The Masked Ball and L’elisir d’Amore. She attended master classes in London with David Jones, Nelly Miricioiu and in Madrid with Teresa Berganza.

Jo-Nette completed a post graduate diploma in teaching at the University of Cape Town in 2006. While studying, she participated in opera theatre classes under the direction of Prof Angelo Gobbato and studied the title roles from Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Pasquale and Rigoletto. In 2007 she joined the Cape Town Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Leon Starker. In 2009 she joined the Cape Town opera Ad Hoc Vocal Ensemble, where she participated in the opera Madama Butterfly, Lucia di Lammermoor and The Mozart Requiem.

And this weekend she is in Vryheid.