Bella turns 50 boldly and in playful style Bella Divine, distinguished saxophone teacher and performer will be presenting a concert in celebration of her 50th birthday coinciding with 25 years of joyful teaching, on 15 September, at 18:30 for 19:00 at the Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria Student Centre. For tickets and more information, contact Marc on 0718921595 or bellaconcert@gmail. Feeling simply dashing and feasting at your table’s own eating merry-go-round, you will be entertained by the Soulful Saxman, Mqondisi Skosana; Awesome Anneke Lamont; a Groovy Jazz Band; Bella’s Enthusiastic Saxophone Students and a Sizzling Surprise… “Turning 50 with a bang”, says Bella, “gives me an excuse to celebrate and playfully make my own fairy tale come true.” With her darling little Jack Russell, Annie, turning 5, the year 2014 is Bella’s “High Five Year”. Bella is stylish and funky, radiating joy and a passion for music and for life. She is the espresso of coffee, the tequila in a margarita, the one who makes lemonade when life throws lemons at her. This effervescent saxophonist lives in full colour, seeking the magic in every moment and sharing it with everybody who is open to receiving it. As a teacher, Bella is a vibrant example of enthusiasm and a source life changing inspiration. She is the proverbial free spirit, continuously expanding her awareness and self-development in order to truly connect with her students individually. She believes that music is an emotional tool to express and enrich yourself in all that life presents to you. Pure magic is created when the one dimensional printed music is brought to life, by integrating the music, feeling it, expressing the colour and playfulness and taking ownership of it. The beautiful saying: “Let the music play you”, summarises it all. As a teacher, her greatest reward is to witness the miracle of a student’s inner musician ascending. “Keep your focus on the small miracles and that will exercise your eyes to see the bigger ones. I feel honoured to be part of this miraculous journey with my students.” Bella is furthering her piano playing and accompaniment skills with the applauded Anneke Lamont, the perfect-picture teacher for her. Born with dancing feet, Bella’s dancing also complements her rhythmical expression and understanding of music. ‘Bella of the Ball’ indulges in the Sultry Salsa, one of her favourite social dances, sharing the stage with the passionate Argentine Tango. Bella is committed to live a holistic, healthy life. She believes that when you engage in what you enjoy most in life it will lead you to your divine life path. It is imperative to live without expectations, maintain a balance, play much, and when in doubt, laugh!” Further background Bella was well on her way to becoming a pharmacist when on one enlightening morning it dawned on her - that music it would be. She dropped Science in her matric year for Music, doing Clarinet and Piano. To the question why, she replies: “I was blessed with a number of key role players who oozed the joy of making a career in music.” • My first Clarinet teacher was Jos de Groen, with his bright green trousers, this master bassoonist, awakened the joy of playing music in me • Wim Willemstijn, the extraordinary choir master of the Brakpan Youth Choir, where I contently spent most of my Friday afternoons in high school, inspired me with his complete dedication to this choir which he was devoted to. As a member of Wim’s Brakpan Men’s Choir my father instilled in me the ability to sing from the heart • Conductor, Pienaar Fourie, a passionate man with a smile larger than life, lit up my Saturday mornings as a member of the East Rand Youth Orchestra. • Corrie Vermaas, in her modest way, gave me the vision as to walking the extra mile as a teacher “From a young age, my mother formed the corner stone of my belief that anything is possible, because in my eyes she was all of that. As a nurturing and supportive mother she ensured that I had everything I needed to pursue my music lessons, even when I wanted to quit, and now I can truly say that I have the most rewarding and fulfilling career.” Bella passed her B.Mus. degree Performing Arts, majoring in Clarinet cum laude. She owes a great deal of this success to Ferdinand Fischli, her maestro of the Clarinet at the University of Pretoria where she studied. During the final year of these studies, Bella also studied hairdressing, leaving her with a music stand and clarinet in the one corner of her room and the paraphernalia of a hair dresser in the other corner. Making history, she became the second female to join the South African Army Band, as Head Musician, adding her colourful flair by showing up in neat uniform with bright pink nails and pink framed glasses. Imagine the captain’s reaction…. Bella left the military to give life to her brain child of offering music appreciation courses to music lovers. Coinciding with this, the now highly admired and respected Niel van der Watt offered her a position as part time Clarinet and Saxophone teacher at Pretoria Boys High School. This gave her the opportunity to include the saxophone in her teaching career, which has now become her field of expertise. As a private teacher Bella is the proud owner of her Music School, The Sounds of Magic, and she also occasionally teaches part time at schools of which the well-known Pro Arte Alphen Park School for Ballet, Art, Music and Drama brings fond memories of teaching exceptional students. Multi-talented teacher, ever bouncing Bella is furthermore a fervent dancer! She passed the competitive bronze exam in Latin American Dancing with her silver Ballroom Dancing opportunity smiling on the horizon. Winking, smiling mischievously, Bella says: “When Mr Divine arrives, I will be ready to take the floor with him, to sweep him off his feet and to Dance for Life!”
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 07:31:46 +0000
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