Just back from the Pro Musica Memorial for late Eric Menezes, compered by his genial brother Les. It was an especially pleasant event, with performances by young student musicians.
As at Cana, they saved the best until the last. A young lady violinist by name Maria Sancha Pereira did Pablo de Sarasate (Introduction et Tarantelle) with the kind of verve that is (for me at least) a sure indication of real musical and performing talent. She was called back for Encore, and I missed the actual title---but it had the ring of 'The Orange Blossom Special'---suggesting that her potential is just not for Baroque & Romantic Period European Classical only, but for world-class Jazz and Contemporary. I think that someday she will be a STAR. I will not pretend to expertise in the field, but would suggest that if a good Scholarship Fund is not already in the making for this girl we should see to it that a move is made in that direction---and before too long. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ISSUES BEING DEBATED: In East Africa, despite colonialism, the British afforded the Goan a sliver of a socio-political voice. Read *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho. Soon to be available in Toronto. Pp 290. Via mail-order from [email protected] http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
