A local animal shelter benefited from a recent chamber music event in Stellenbosch when the organizers donated all ticket proceeds to the Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch. This is according to Peter Vanderspuy, member of the family who owns the Old Nectar Gardens in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, where the event was held on 3 April.
The Vanderspuy family has been donating to the Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch (AWSS) since 2012, according to Peter Vanderspuy, member of the family who owns the Old Nectar Gardens in Stellenbosch. On the Old Nectar Gardens property, there are 14 dogs, nearly all of which were adopted from AWSS, said Vanderspuy. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
‘A privilege to do something good’
Over the past ten years, the Vanderspuy family have donated a portion of all the proceeds from music events held in their wine cellars to the Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch (AWSS), according to Van der Spuy.
“My family will match the box office number given to the concert players and donate it to Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch,” said Vanderspuy. “For us, it’s a privilege to do something good.”
“The Vanderspuy family of Old Nectar Gardens has been supporting the AWSS for many years,” stated Jessica Perrins, head of fundraising and communications at the AWSS, in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
The performance was two hours in total. During the interval, guests enjoyed finger food and selected wines from Oldenburg Wine Estate. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
The Vanderspuy family’s support of the AWSS has been made possible by “hosting an annual open garden” and to “now donating proceeds from various events being held at their premises”, according to Perrins.
AWSS depends almost entirely on donations for the continuation of their mission to help “alleviate the plight of many unfortunate animals struggling to survive”, according to Perrins.
By putting these donations specifically towards their community outreach clinics, AWSS can “better serve the needs of pet owners and meet the ever-increasing demand for [their] services”, stated Perrins.
Music for a cause
The CCMC comprises South African musicians who perform chamber music around different locations in the Cape.
Performers Bonolo Kgaile and Uliana Alekseev performed with fellow musicians David Pinoit, Farida Bacharova and Francois du Toit for the first time in the quintet at Old Nectar. The passion project of CCMC allows the group to expose South Africa to chamber music and give back locally, they stated.
Five musicians performed in the recent Cape Chamber Music Collective piano quintet project. Seen from left to right are Uliana Alekseev on the viola, David Pinoit on the cello, Farida Bacharova on the violin, Bonolo Kgaile on the violin and Francois du Toit on the piano. PHOTO: Supplied/Fiona Grayer
Other than playing her violin at concerts such as the quintet, Kgaile explained that her job as a musician extends further than the instrument she plays in a concert. Kgaile feels that the goal of being a musician is to leave someone feeling different to what they did prior to the concert, she stated.
“It makes us feel great to know that we are doing this for more than just entertaining people,” stated Kgaile.