Advent Concert – New Apostolic Church, Aberdeen
The annual Advent Concert was held at the New Apostolic Church in Thembalesizwe on Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock. The theme of this year’s concert was “Christmas”, and as usual the standard of the musical offerings was very high. The prayers and address were given by District Elder Chris de Jager, and the master of ceremonies and leading conductor was Mr Hilton Hendricks of the Graaff-Reinet congregation.
The choir comprised members from Aberdeen, Graaff-Reinet, and Willowmore, and the Sunday School children’s choir was conducted by Mrs Valerie Coetzee. A Nativity tableau was very successfully staged by members of the children’s choir, with Desvaline Coetzee as the Virgin Mary.
Organists were Ashley Jantjies of Graaff-Reinet and Roberto de Jager of Aberdeen, who with his wife Esteline runs the orchestra. Esteline is a gifted soprano as well as playing the flute, violin and the recorder, while Roberto is a master of instruments! He first learns to play an instrument himself, and then teaches other orchestra members, and as a result members of the orchestra are highly versatile, many playing more than one instrument. All of the orchestra members also sing in the choir, with one member now able to conduct the choir as well.
The programme consisted of well known pieces of Christmas and church music, including a performance of Handel’s Largo by the orchestra. The beautiful soloists included Desvaline Coetzee, Hilshané Hendricks, and Alistair Jantjies.
No account of the choir would be complete without a mention of the talented Klassen girls – Riché (15), Chrishé (12), and tiny Caitlin (6). The two older girls both joined the choir at an early age, and are now being followed by little Caitlin.
The programme ended at 7 pm with joyful community singing which the choir, congregation and children joined in.
The children’s choir sparkling while singing “Shine, Jesus, Shine
The Klassen sisters Chrishé, Caitlin and Riché with conductor and MC Hilton Hendricks
The touching Nativity scene
The orchestra
The recorder group
