From elegant evening wear to kilt for Toti songstress

Toti songbird Sornia Kanfer wowed the audience at the Jewish Club in Durban on Tuesday night, 19 April with her beautiful voice, but most eyes were on the spectacular dress which was donated for her performance.

Ahead of her appearance as opening act for the Friends of Music event, Sornia’s mother Maureen sent out a plea on social media for an outfit for her 13-year-old daughter to wear. Toti dressmaker Renette Bester heard about it from a friend and offered Sornia one of her creations. “I always help people who need help,” she said.

Her hair and make-up for her performance was sponsored by Jaxx Hair Stylists.

The grade 8 Kuswag pupil was singing at the Spring Concert in Scottburgh where she was heard by somebody from Friends of Music. They were so impressed by her performance that she was asked to open their classical concert in Durban on Tuesday.

“I’m ready and not nervous at all,” she said ahead of her appearance. “I will sing three or four songs during my 10 minutes on stage.”

Sornia is also hard at work preparing for the 52nd Highland Gathering which will be hosted by Amanzimtoti Lions at Hutchison Park on Saturday, 30 April. She will sing ‘Flower of Scotland’ with the pipers, ‘Hallelujah’ with Keely Crocker and two other solo songs.

“Our practises with the 1 Medical Battalion Group Association Pipe Band in Durban have been going well. So far we have had two practises and we will have one more before the show. This is the first time I have sung accompanied by pipers. I will wear a kilt for my performance, so I’m very excited to be on stage.”