Magnificent music in the majestic City Hall: The Army Band’s Gala Concert 2016

On 15 April 2016, we attended the Gala Concert of the SA Army Band Western Cape in the City Hall in central Cape Town. Although they are primarily a military marching band, their wide-ranging repertoire also includes classical, jazz, big band, rock and pop…

What an unforgettable, magical evening!

If you ever have an opportunity to see the SA Army Band Western Cape performing live, please grab it with both hands – you will enjoy every moment!

Damp and drizzly rehearsals for the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2014

Today had been a dark, cold and wet day in the city. As I walked back to my car late at night, I could hear, somewhere, in the distance, the wail of a piper and the deep roll of bass drums echoing within the Castle walls, the sound seeming to linger long after they had…

A wonderful Cape Town Military Tattoo Matinee performance at the Castle

The Castle of Good Hope opened its doors to several energetic youth groups, who performed together with the military bands – SA Army Band Cape Town, SA Air Force Band, SA Navy Band and SAMHS Band – and two of the pipe bands that have been performing during the Cape Town Military Tattoo – the Cape Field Artillery Pipes & Drums and the SAMHS Pipes & Drums.

The Cape Town Military Tattoo 2013 must go on – despite the rain!

The spectators who arrived for the dress rehearsal of the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2013 at the Castle of Good Hope were treated to an absolutely brilliant show. Any problems that had manifested in the run-throughs of the previous two evenings seemed to have been ironed out, and I was blown away by the quality of the performances.

And this was despite the fact that it – thankfully intermittently – drizzled and spat, poured and bucketed with rain, throughout the evening.

The second evening rehearsal for the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2013

Tonight was the second run-through of the entire show, and the levels of excitement – and stress – behind the scenes were running high. The previous night, I had run out of energy, after a long hot day on my feet, and so I had missed the second half of the show. Tonight, I was determined to stay until the end.

The first evening rehearsal of the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2013

After all the bands had had an opportunity to go through their routines in the front arena during the day, it was time for all the different acts to be assembled together into a well-structured programme, with one act flowing nicely into the next.

A long hot day of rehearsals for the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2013

When the early morning mist curled around the buildings and streetlights of Cape Town, creating a slightly eerie atmosphere, it gave no indication that it would become such a hot Monday. By mid-morning, the heat of the sun had burned off the mist, and a brilliantly blue sky was bringing out the ochre-yellow hues in the walls of the Castle of Good Hope. By midday, everyone was looking for shady spots to shelter from the harsh sun, and glancing hopefully towards the western skyline, where just the hint of a cold front was starting to appear.

Looking back on an exciting year of being published!

Last year, I wrote and submitted a number of articles to the Pinelands Muse community magazine and the Reserve Force Volunteer magazine, as well as the Equestrian Express and the Sawubona in-flight magazine of South African Airways, our national carrier. In order to update my CV at the start of January, I compiled a list, which I thought I’d share with you, in case you are curious.

A colourful and thrilling display of marching skills: The Western Cape Schools Drill and Marching Festival 2012 at Florida Park in Ravensmead

On Saturday morning, 20 October 2012, I made my way to the Florida Park Sports Ground in Stroebel Road, Ravensmead. I had been asked by WO2 André van Schalkwyk of the SA Army Band Cape Town to take some photographs of their performance at the Western Cape Schools Drill and Marching Festival 2012. I had attended and written about last year’s festival in Vygieskraal Stadium, Athlone, and was looking forward to what promised to be a very exciting event.

Colourful costumes, thundering drums and skirling bagpipes: Announcing the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012!

Update: The article I wrote about this event was published on the Reserve Force Division Website. Here is the PDF document. I am absolutely thrilled to be able to share this news with you – it is all systems go with the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012! You may recall that I was racing around…

Thundering drums, skirling pipes and heavenly voices: The 2011 Gala Concert of the SA Army Band Cape Town

Update: An article I wrote about this event was published on the Reserve Force Division website. Here is the PDF document. On Friday, 2 December 2011, the annual Gala Concert of the SA Army Band Cape Town took place at the grand City Hall in Darling Street, central Cape Town. As concertgoers took their seats in…

A fantastic evening’s entertainment: The Military Sunset Concert at the Castle

Update: An article I wrote about this event was published on the Reserve Force Division website. Here is the PDF document. This evening, the Military Sunset Concert 2011 was held at the Castle of Good Hope in central Cape Town, under a cloudless blue summer sky. When the big imposing gates of the Castle opened…

You’re all invited to a Military Sunset Concert at the Castle of Good Hope

Round up all your family and friends, and head on down to the magnificent old Castle of Good Hope in central Cape Town on Friday 18 November 2011 and Saturday 19 November 2011, for a relaxing sunset picnic on the lawns, followed by a wonderful military music concert. Yes, you are invited to bring along…