PYPO Newsletter Des 2011 Page 1

December 2011

Reflecting back

The year started off with demonstration

concerts at the Jakaranda (PTA) and

Muphathutsi (Hammanskraal) Children’s

homes. These concerts were an eye-

opener in experiencing musical

exposure, or rather the lack thereof, in

our local communities. Most of us were

touched in some way or another by

those children’s happy faces.

The excitement of this first concert was

damped by the news of our beloved

conductor, oom Pienaar’s heart attack.

Even though Pierre (our friendly

neighborhood JSO leader and previous

PYPO leader) was able to assist in

conducting, the day was not quite the

same. A quadruple cardiac by-pass

was performed on oom Pienaar, and

despite being in ICU and hospital for

some time, he made a remarkably

speedy recovery.

Due to the significant physical

requirements of conducting, we were

forced to seek another temporary

conductor to replace him during his

recovery. Martin Eccles, a young music

student, rose the occasion. He helped

during the usual rehearsals and also

took care of the annual rehearsal

camp. We gained a lot of knowledge

from him, and experienced a fresh new

approach to orchestral music.

Newsletter

What a year! Need I say more?

Most of you will agree with me when I

say the past year was a mixture of

exceptional highs and daunting lows.

Even though January 2011 feels like

yesterday, it simultaneously feels like

3years’ work and effort was squeezed

into one never ending year.

We have reached the end of the road

for this year, having achieved so much.

Great friendships, awesome concerts

2011: A year to remember…

and dedication are only a few of the

memories that will stay for years to

come.

Thanks to everyone that have

contributed to making 2011 a massive

success!!!

“After silence, that

which comes nearest

to expressing the

inexpressible is music”

- Aldous Huxley

Caption describing

picture or graphic.

In this issue:

2011 : A year to

remember

Reflecting back

Exciting times

ahead

We salute

News headlines

A time to say

goodbye

Designing PYPO’s previous logo… by alumni - Brad Pollock

PYPO Newsletter Des 2011 Page 2

commitment and help of each

orchestra member and their parents

helped us to make this yearly

fundraiser a massive success. This

night will always be remembered

for the great food, exceptional

company and majestic music.

To end of the busy year, two more

demonstration concerts, one at the

SOS Village (Mamelodi) and

President Kruger Children’s home

(Villeria) just reminded us of our

commitment to bringing music to

those that are not as privileged as

us. These children will always

remember this day as the day the

experienced a real orchestra!

And that’s it. A whole year! An

amazing year…

Exciting times ahead…

The next big challenge on our

calendar was the Cheese & Wine

Evening. This was a new venture for

us as orchestra, and required a lot of

planning. The evening proved to be

a great success, with great

compliments coming from audience

members. With a glass of good

Swartland red wine in the hand, a

warm family atmosphere was the

order of the day around the bond

fires in the ice cold Moreleta Nature

reserve. This will hopefully become a

yearly event to look forward to…

Once again the Annual Gala

Concert was held in September, and

what a night it was. Our guests (and

orchestra) were transferred to the

heart of Shanghai, with music fit for a

king (or shall I say Emperor). The

Ettienne Wium was recently elected as new Chairperson

of PYPO! Under his leadership the orchestra will certainly

flourish and achieve great things. He completed his high-

school years in Johannesburg at Dr. EG Jansen, after which

he enrolled at the University of Pretoria to study BSc(Med). In

2012 he will however continue his studies in an engineering

field at TUT. He is an exceptional saxophone player and is

also a drummer during his spare time. Through the years he

has proven his dedication to music by being member of the

Eastrand Youth orchestra for several years, and subsequently

PYPO. During the past time, I have come to know Ettienne as

a hardworking, intelligent and very dedicated individual that

is not shy for any challenge. I’m looking forward to see the

new ideas that he will bring to this amazing orchestra in the

years to come! We wish you all the best!

Why we teach music! Not because we expect you to major in music

Not because we expect you to play and sing all your life Not so that you can relax

Not so that you can have fun

BUT SO You will be human

You will recognize beauty You will be sensitive

You will be close to an infinite beyond this world You will have something to cling to

You will have: More love

More compassion More gentleness

More good

In short: MORE LIFE!!

Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless

you know how to live?

Pennsylvania Educators Association

PYPO Newsletter Des 2011 Page 3

LILI VON GYSO - member for 11/12 years

“Being in an orchestra has been a fantastic

experience – during school it labeled me as

a nerd amongst my class mates, and the

majority of the orchestra members do look

like the average misfit, yet each orchestra

member has a unique quality that made

them genuinely nice people that I enjoyed

knowing. Every rehearsal was an occasion

to look forward to, and I would come home

grinning from ear to ear.

Orchestra camp, or band camp as a lot of

us called it, was also an annual event to

look forward to. There was the standing

joke amongst my non-orchestra friends of

“that one time...at band camp...” yet they

just never understood the fun that was

involved in a weekend of rehearsal and the

late nights and the early mornings and

those blaring trumpets right behind me

after said late night.

Ultimately, orchestra has taught me the

value of working together in a group, and

that the whole is greater than the sum of its

parts. My sight reading improved, my

confidence increased in leaps and bounds,

and I also learnt that making mistakes is not

the end of the world – probably because

the orchestra is so noisy no one could hear

them anyway.

Either way, I would probably have

continued playing in the orchestra until I

could not lie about my age anymore, but

instead I will be travelling South America for

a few months and will thus relinquish my

spot as first flute to my second-in-

command Amore du Plessis.

To all those members who only started in

the orchestra recently, do keep at it. My

first rehearsal 11 or 12 years ago was a

catastrophe and I arrived home in tears,

but I went back and it was the best

decision I could have made.”

- Lili

NB EVENTS FOR 2012

We salute…

TILLIE DU PREEZ - member for 3 years

“I became a member of PYPO in late 2008 – after seeing the impact it was having

on my new boyfriend, Riaan’s life. He was always doing something related to the

orchestra, whether it was attending socials, organizing concerts or arranging for T-

shirts to be printed! Great was my surprise when he told me that their orchestra

actually needed a pianist… The thought had never quite crossed my mind that

an orchestra could actually need a pianist. Even though I had passed my Grade

8 UNISA exam quite well, it was years back and I was really apprehensive. I

struggled at first, but after each rehearsal my confidence grew and before long I

found myself completely in love with this special orchestra. I made new friends,

learned how to organize big concerts and events and had a bunch of fun doing

it all! Now, more than 3 years later, I am leaving the orchestra (and Pretoria!) to

start a new chapter in my life. On January 1st 2012, I am going to walk into

Tygerberg Hospital and if someone shouts “DOCTOR!!” I will have to

respond…Scary!!

My time in PYPO was unforgettable! I learned a lot about myself, about

organizing, about friendship and leadership (and a little about Riaan too!). I wish

all of you who are continuing on the best of luck and happiness for 2012! May you

have the time of your lives!!Hugs and Kisses”

- Doc Tillie

DEON JOUBERT - member for 9 years

“The past nine years that I have spent in

PYPO have given me some of my fondest

memories. There have been so many great

experiences: performing with fireworks at

Sun City, getting sun burnt on the Durban

tour and partying at band camps at

Leeuwenhoek and Altelekker. I'll also never

forget all the gala concerts (both for the

music and the preparation) and

demonstration performances. It's also been

such a joy and learning experience to be

part of the committee that keeps the

orchestra functioning, to be part of that

planning process. And lastly, I've met such

fascinating, interesting and fun people

through the orchestra. Musicians just are a

cut above the rest. I will truly miss the

orchestra.”

- Deon

PYPO Newsletter Des 2011 Page 4

What do you call a person who is

afraid of Santa Claus?

Claustrophobic!

… so it was not jingle bells!!

On the magnificent day of 26 Nov 2011 Alma (Potgieter) and Johan Bennett tied the knot. You looked stunning Alma!! All of us at PYPO want to congratulate you with your wedding and hope that the decades to come (yup, that’s a long time) will be full of joy excitement and prosperity! May you be blessed in everything the future holds for you two…

Alma & Johan Bennett

Page 2

NEWS HEADLINES

“ He asked me at sunrise on the beach in Cape Vidal. Wonderful richly blessed. Perfect weather. The moment was perfect... I was kinda dumbstruck.... and I always always have lots to say. But I managed a nod” :) :D

Congratulations to Karin Fechter and Jan

Pieterse for becoming engaged! We wish

you all the best!! May you find endless

happiness in your journey ahead!

… and another wedding’s on the way

PYPO Newsletter Des 2011 Page 5

Who would have thought, 14 years ago, as a 10yr old kiddy that

in 2011, I would still be a member of PYPO? My time in this orchestra has meant more to me than is possible to put into

words… music, especially playing Cello, has become such an integral part of my life that I am unable to imagine my life without

it. The many fellow musicians in PYPO and oom Pienaar guided me through the years to help me develop my musical skills to

what it is today. Not only did it improve my musical ability, but it has taught me commitment, self confidence, determinability and professionalism.

To identify one single favorite event is very difficult, but memories of many-many band camps, massive productions (Sun City, Mass

Orchestra’s & later Orchestra Rave) and several tours (Ellisras, Thabazimbi, and Natal) will always stay with me. Multiple stories

of funny and daunting moments bring a smile to my face when I remember these events.

PYPO has through the years, especially the last 5 while I was serving on the committee, (of which 3 as chairperson), taken up a

lot of my time. I would not change a thing about it! In contrary to popular believe, when studying medicine time management is

A time to say goodbye!

Email : pyporchestra@yahoo.com

Website : www.pyporchestra.ning.com

Facebook : “PYPO”

Contact Nr : 072 021 1697

Conductor : Pienaar Fourie

Chairperson : Riaan Nel - 2011 / Ettienne Wium - 2012

PLEASE complete our online survey ASAP, in regard to PYPO during the year of 2011.

We really need you feedback to make the orchestra even better in 2012.

It only takes 5 minutes and it’s completely anonymous…

www.surveymonkey.com/s/SFWLMYM

difficult. PYPO stuff however,

even writing Newsletters (at 01h00) and planning Gala events

are a lot of fun and extremely relaxing. I have truly enjoyed

every moment, even the challenging times, and will miss being involved tremendously.

My time at PYPO has finally come to an end. Sadly, this is it! A new chapter in my life is about to begin, firstly relocating

to Capetown and then starting 1 Jan 2012 as a qualified doctor! It’s a daunting prospect, but the excitement is

difficult to hide! What the future holds, I do not know, but I really can’t wait to find out!

Thank you to every single person who has through the past 1.5decades contributed to make PYPO what it is today. An

orchestra to be extremely proud of! I leave you in very capable hands, and am looking forward to see how you, as a

team, will continue to uphold what we stand for. Until we meet again… Goodluck and Enjoy!

Dr. Riaan Nel