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Highlights of 2023
Highlights of 2022
With singer Auriol Hays at the Tankwa Arts residency in April
Performance at Chris and Marica Otto's home in May in Fernkloof, Hermanus
Performing on the piano of Lize in May
After my concert at Huis Kweekvallei in June in Prins Albert
After my concert at Golden Pond in July in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Two photos above - after my concert at the home of Petrus and Liesbeth Strijdom in Hermanus in September
After the performance at the Sandton Theater on the Square with Lara's mother Sonja Kirsten
Two above photos taken at WILD restaurant in the Hermanus Waterfront where Lara performed
Two above photos taken in Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape where Lara performed at the home of EMily and Ray Buchanan.
Lara playing at one of her favourite homes - that of Marten and Cari n Bootsma in Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape.
For New Year's festivities, Lara performs on the white grand piano of the Monte Marie restaurant in the winelands of Stellenbosch. Joining her above is restauranteur Pieter for one of the funnest improvisation sessions ever!
Highlights of 2021
Above three photos from a shoot at The Brewery, Hermanus (Photos: Jessica Pote)
Lara in performance at The Brewery, Hermanus
Lara plays a home concert in Onrus
Lara with the family of one of her students after her concert in Onrus
Lara's first tour since Lockdown kick off in Plettenberg Bay
On Lara's favourite deck - with little Karlien, the granddaughter of the hosts, Marten and Carin Bootsma in Kareedouw
Karlien taking a bow after her guest appearance at Lara's concert
Photoshoot in Konkiebaai, Eersterivierstrand (photographer: Zaan de Bruyn)
Above two photos from an impromptu concert at the Roche guesthouse in Queenstown/Komani
Gentleman on the left is the inimitable host, Johan Reynders
First concert for The KwaZulu-Natal leg of the tour kicks off at the frail care at Amberfield, Howick.
Seen above is the happy audience
Two photos above from the home concert in Howick
Lara in concert at the Breathe studio in Howick
Two photos above Lara in one of her favourite places - Hogsback, in the St Patricks' chapel
Lara's piano gets moved from her home in Sandbaai to the Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
Lara in concert at the Baardskeerdersbos Art Route (photo: Niel Jonker)
Lara accompanying tenor Pierre van der Westhuizen at a memorial concert at the Gabrielskloof wine estate
Three photos above from the "Immortal Love" concert at the Erin Hall, Rondebosch.
Lara with flutist Thomas de Bruin, pianist Albert Combrink and cellist Cheryl de Havilland (photos: Andries Jordaan)
What a privilege and joy to perform at the Breytenbach center in Wellington. After the concert met Ruvan Mulder (second from left); we last saw each other when we were at Art school in Johannesburg
At the opening of the McGregor Poetry festival (photo: Ashley Dowds)
I shared my reading at the Poetry in McGregor weekend with poets Nondwe Mpuma (left) and Malika Ndlovu (middle)
With my audience at Huis Lettie Theron in Hermanus
Performing at Huis Lettie Theron in Hermanus (photo: Liesbeth Strijdom)
At the rehearsal with guitarist Yahya Rautenbach in Stanford
After rehearsing with Yahya Rautenbach for our performance Rojo & Amarillo - a selection of Spanish music for guitar & piano
My first concert at Kidbrooke Place. Photo above with organisers Philip Joubert en Rita Zurlinden
My last concert for 2021 was at the home of legendary Gawie and Gwen Fagan in Camps Bay in Cape Town.
Photo above is of Gwen introducing me in her humorous style.
After the concert with Gwen and her son Henry Fagan
And my pride and joy for 2021 is my piano students who all showed such commitment and progress
Highlights of 2020
Lara signing the Cottage Concerts performers/audience book
Lara performing at Huis Lettie Theron in Hermanus, the Western Cape
Three photos above: Lara loves visiting and working with friend and photographer Keran Ruth Elah in the Garden Route
Five photos above: Lara's performance "Piano in Flight" in the Auditorium at the Nelson Mandela university in Gqebera (Port Elizabeth). This was part of her National Arts Council (NAC) funded tour in the Eastern Cape. For this performance Lara was joined by the Helenvale poets who read their poems on the theme of flight.
Lara with the Helenvale poets and fellow poet Brian Walter - who runs the writing classes and assists in editing and publishing the books of the Helenvale Poets
Lara was lucky enough to have friend and travel assistant Rika Oosthuyzen on her National Arts Council funded tour in the Eastern Cape
Rika's husband Andre Oosthuyzen kindly travelled with and let us use his van for our travels
..and the Lockdown happened! Lara had time to teach herself guitar in her little flat in Sandbaai
..and a rare selfie in front of Lara's mirror in her flat in Sandbaai. Many moments of reflection during Lockdown
Deon Johnstone approached Lara to do a podcast about her life and spirit during Lockdown
A rare live performance at Noraplace in Northcliff. After Lara's performance fun was had on the piano with fellow musician and friend Jean Frederik
Highlights of 2019
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| Lara performing outside Steampunk Coffee, Lions River, The KZN Midlands, 27 April (photo: Paul Hildyard) |
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| Lara Kirsten and soprano Emma Farquharson after their recital at Garlington, Hilton, 30 May |
 Lara and Emma with the piano kindly sponsored for the Garlington concert by Lona's Pianos | |
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| Lara reading at the monthly open mic poetry session at Steampunk Coffee in Lionsriver in the KZN Midlands |
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| Lara performing at Lemonwood in the Dargle of the KZN Midlands, 1 June |
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Lara with Cape Town friends Gill and Billy after her recital in Camp Bay, 18 August
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| Lara performing at the exhibition You in the Water / The Water in You - a combination of her poems and photography by Dani Debellis (photos by Dani Debellis) |
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| Lara walking the streets at the Mcgregor Poetry Festival with Ashley Dowds, Lies and Hester van der Walt |
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| Lara before her recital at the Pumpkin House in Langebaan, 1 September |
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| Lara in the SABC studios in Seapoint with radio presenter Frieda van den Heever for an interview on the Afrikaans radio station, RSG, for the program Vers en Klank, 3 September |
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| Lara after her recital at the Heuer music shop in Stellenbosch, 4 September. Above she is with the generous hosts of the evening Abraham van Rooyen and Elize Taljaard |
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| Lara in one of her favourite streets in one of her favourite towns, Paulet street in Somerset-East - a memorable weekend in the middle of her outreach tour in the Eastern Cape. On the right is the famous Walter Battiss museum which has special memories for Lara - she performed her installation/poetry piece FRAMES in the various rooms more than a decade ago. |
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| Lara with friend and travel assistant Rika Oosthuysen in the streets of Bedford - one of the towns of Lara's outreach tour in September in the Eastern Cape |
performances and workshops at various retirement homes and schools in the towns of Bedford, Somerset-East, Adelaide, Humansdorp and Jeffreys Bay <<<
Highlights of 2018
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| Bridget Harrison and myself running in the streets of the quaint town of Rhodes where I performed at the Stoepsit Fest, 15-17 February. Bridget has been key in getting me to perform in Rhodes and present workshops and masterclasses in Matatiele, Eston and the Drakensberg for me for 2018. What a wonderful woman to work (and run;-) with! |
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| Glenn Read introducing my performance of Yann Tiersen's EUSA in their home, 7 April, Hilton Gardens |
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| After my recital of Yann Tiersen's EUSA at the home of Paul and Glenn in Hilton, 7 April |
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| My recital of The Resonating Pulse at the Michaelhouse Music Festival, 12 May (photos: Kavish Rajpaul) |
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| Performing at The Lucit Candle Gardens, Pretoria, 1 July |
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| My concert poster for the recital on 8 July at Noraplace in Northcliff, Johannesburg, of Yann Tiersen's EUSA - ten pieces for piano inspired by the island of Ushant (Breton equivalent known as Eusa). |
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| What a joy to appear alongside singer Tanya Nicolson and pianist St John Haw at the Winter Music Matinee in Pietermaritzburg, 22 July |
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| Reciting poetry at the Winter Music Matinee, 22 July |
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| After the performance of Winter Music Matinee with my fellow-musicians Tanya Nicolson and St John Haw on 22 July |
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| An evening to remember! It has been a dream of mine to perform at the Conscious Cafe (aka The Castle) in Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal on 27 July. The concert coincided with the total lunar eclipse that night. |
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| Performing in the Conscious Cafe (The Castle) in Hillcrest, Durban on 27 July |
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| One of my piano students let us move her piano to the Conscious Cafe specially for the performance. Here I am testing the piano after it got tuned the morning before the concert |
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| Some newspaper coverage of my piano performance at the home of the Vercuil's in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal on 4 August |
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| Amidst my solo-touring I had the joyous experience to go on a week long roadtrip in August with friend and clarinetist Morné van Heerden through the Eastern Cape. Our tour took us to Grahamstown, Plettenberg Bay, Kareedouw and Hogsback. |
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| One of the two performances I performed at the Mcgregor Poetry Festival, 24-26 August (photo: Don Pinnock) |
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| Yeah, how chuffed I was to meet the one and only Pieter Dirk Uys at the VoorkamerFest in Darling |
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| Here catching a humorous moment with my audience at my recital at the Voorkamer Fest in Darling. I gave around a dozen performances over the Festival weekend, 31 August - 2 September. What a great festival and concept. |
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| Here with one of the taxi drivers who transported the various audience-members to the respective concert venues |
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| Hanging with the staff of Evita se Perron, the central point of the Voorkamer Fest |
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| Just after my recital for the Thank You function of the McGregor Poetry Festival, 19 September. The performance was specially organised for all the dedicated organisers, volunteers and hosts- seeing that they are so occupied with making sure the Festival runs smoothly, they miss out on the various readings and performances during the Festival. This concert was a special tribute to all these very important role-players who keep this festival alive (behind me: Martin & Jennifer Johnson, Billy Kennedy and Michael McKenzie) |
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| The concert venue - what an incredible turn-out we had the evening! Stanfordians - you have given me such wonderful support over the years! |
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| Here with my fellow performers after the performance on 20 September - soprano Bea Whitaker, pianist Janika Dorland, and pianist Marli Pigott |
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| I had the joy to give masterclasses to some of the piano-students of Janika Dorland in Stanford. Above are all the performers for the Beethoven concert she organised |
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| Getting ready for Konsert-in-die-Bos. I was invited by artist Niel Jonker to perform for the Baardskeerdersbos Art Route. Here I am performing on the side of the dam in the magical setting of the sun, 22 September |
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| My performance of Yann Tiersen's EUSA in Constantia, Cape Town, 28 September. Yet another host, Fiona Archer who has been so supportive of my poetry and concerts - she is always on the ready to host my performances on her beautiful upright - definitely one of the best upright pianos I have played on. |
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| Here with the Bootsma family in Kareedouw in the Langkloof of the Eastern Cape - Marten and Carin Bootsma who gifted me the piano I have taken to AfrikaBurn twice, and the instrument I practice and teach on. On my way back to KwaZulu-Natal I stopped over for a special tribute performance to the Bootsmas, 4 October |
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| Workshopping poetry and photography with the Helenvale poets in Port Elizabeth, 6 October (photos: Brian Walter) |
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| Performing at Music in the Hills (MiTH) at the Knoll in Hilton, 10 October |
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| Giving piano workshops for various rural schools at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, 12 October (photos: Bridget Harrison). |
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| My performance for the inauguration of the new Shigeru Kawai piano at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, 28 October. A special hanks to pianist Christopher Duigan who invited my program to be part of the inauguration concert-series (photos: Paul Eric Hildyard & Bronwen Havard). |
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| One of my highlight performances of 2018 - in the Crab Apple Chapel in the Dargle, 11 November. I played my new program Piano in Flight. I had such a enchanted time performing in that beautiful and serene space. |
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| Here with the students of Misty Meadows school from the Dargle on the steps of the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg. The children were taken on a humorous and interactive walk-about with Pinky Nkabinde in the different art rooms. Then I performed for them on the Tatham's brand new Shigeru Kawai piano - I had to show off this grand instrument to the children ;-) |
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| Performing my recital - Piano in Flight - at Sagewood Cafe in Pietermaritzburg, 25 November. The owner and chef Gregg Oosthuizen prepared a sumptuous High Tea for the guests. The most perfect afternoon. The yellow pieces of paper around the tree are the poems that I recited. |
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| The Summer Feels concert was a joint performance with singer Tanya Nicolson and St John Haw at the Gordon's farm Overstone, 2 December. On the left is Caro Richter and on right Phillippa Gordon, the two sisters who so joyously organised and hosted the afternoon (photos: Paul Eric Hildyard). |
Highlights of 2017
Lara performing at Zuvuya Sunfest, the Dargle in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, 4 February (photos: Louis Bolton)
Lara performing with Sandile Mabaso and the Vusisizwe Choral Society in Opera Gala at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, 19 March (photos: Kavish Rajpaul)
The poster for Lara's solo piano program she traveled with over South Africa in 2017 - The Resonating Pulse (music by Bach, Debussy, Albeniz and Tiersen and improvisations and poetry on the theme of the Pulse (photo: Keran Ducasse)
photo: Gideon Vewas
photo: Philip Malan
Lara performing three piano concerts (as a tribute to her late father and the San Bushmen) during the AfrikaBurn Festival in the Tankwa Karoo, 28-30 April (photo: Jaco Uys)
Lara after her performance at Amberfield Frail Care, Howick, 18 May
Lara performing in the Meditation Hall at The Waterfall Retreat Centre in Hillcrest, 20 May
Lara's performance in the exquisite setting of Noraplace in Northcliff, Johannesburg, 27 May
Lara in performance at a Kindlewood Soiree in Bordeaux, Johannesburg, 25 June (photos: Jean-Frederik)
Lara in performance at the home of Gavin and Elsa De Kock, Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg, 1 July (photo: Arnold de Beer)
Lara with a school mate of hers Antje Thompson who runs the Da Capo music school in Northcliff, Johannesburg alongside her husband Glen. They hosted a beautiful music evening for the students with Lara as guest performer
Lara performing her Mirrors installation and poetry piece during the Plett Arts Festival, 13 July (photo: Timothy Twidle)
Lara in a photoshoot after her performance of Mirrors with photographer Vinthi Neufeld, Plettenberg Bay, 15 July
Lara with members of the orchestra/band playing for the Michaelhouse school production of Andersson and Ulvaeus' Chess, 13-16 August
Lara performing her Mirrors installation/poetry piece at the Mcgregor Poetry Festival, 25-27 August (photos: Daniele Debellis)
Lara performing at the Festival of Trees in Hogsback, 24 September. Latoya Solani assisted with the creating of just the right resonance within the audience
Lara after the piano-play-day at Misty Meadows Country School, The Dargle, Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, 29 September
Lara with clarinetist Morné van Heerden after their performance at the prestigious Northwards, Parktown, Johannesburg, 15 October
Lara after her performance for the Foundry Staff on her and her partner Kim Goodwin's smallholding in Lidgetton, the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, 23 November
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| Clarinetist Morné van Heerden and pianist Lara Kirsten had two successful tours of their program The Dance in 2016 in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape |
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| Lara Kirsten and Morné van Heerden performing at the Michaelhouse Music Festival in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands, 24 April (photo: Jonathan Burton) |
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| Morné van Heerden and Lara Kirsten after their performance at Sunfield Home for menttaly challenged adults in Howick, 22 April |
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| Lara Kirsten and tenor Sandile Mabaso after their performance of Beethoven's An die ferne Geliebte and Schumann's Dichterliebe, 13 July (photo: Ansie de Swardt) |
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| Cellist Fiona Bull, singer-songwriter Abbo Hall and Lara Kirsten playing their first performance as Geode at Music in the Midlands at The Knoll in Hilton, 10 August |
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| Calligrapher Andrew van der Merwe applying the calligraphy of excerpts of Lara's poetry on her body for a performance at the Mcgregor Poetry Festival, 27 August (photo: Daniele Debellis) |
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| Lara perfoming her piece mond: asemrowende spelonk at the McGregor Poetry Festival, 27 August (all photos above: Daniele Debellis) |
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| A playful photoshoot with Lara on a dusty road in McGregor after her performance at the poetry festival (all photos above: Daniele Debellis) |
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| Morné van Heerden and Lara Kirsten in recital at the McGregor Poetry Festival, 27 August (all photos above: Daniele Debellis) |
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| The first studio shoot with Lara and photographer Tony Meintjies in McGregor (woord-koors calligraphed by Andrew van der Merwe on Lara's face - it translates into word fever) |
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| Lara presenting a workshop Sounding your Voice at the Alliance Francaise Poetry Festival in Port Elizabeth, 10 September |
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| Much jolliness ensued after the open mic at the poetry festival at Alliance Francaise in Port Elizabeth. On Lara's left Patsy Laubscher, the organiser of the festival. |
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| Lara engaging with the elements during the Global Nomadic art Project in September (photo: Louis Bolton) |
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Highlights of 2015
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Lara Kirsten after her performance for Mother's Day with residents of Amberfield Frail Care Centre in Howick, 7 May
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Lara Kirsten after her performance at Sunfield Home for Mentally Challenged Adults in Howick, 17 July. Lara called up some residents to improvise with her on the piano. Even though most of them have no musical training they played with such a natural feeling for melody and rhythm.
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| Pianists Laura Pauna and Lara Kirsten performing the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzer with Richard Cock and The Chanticleer Singers at the Sasolburg Theater, 15 August |
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| Flutist Thomas de Bruin and Lara Kirsten in recital of the 3 B's - Lost and Transcribed - music transcribed for flute by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms at Casta Diva, Pretoria, 23 August |
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| Joined by Lara and Thomas' family and friends after their recital at Casta Diva, Pretoria, 23 August |
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| Lara Kirsten performing at the McGregor Poetry Festival, 30 August (photo: Daniele Debellis) |
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| Lara Kirsten with Sandile Mabaso, Ntabiseng and Ntombi after their performance at the Kokstad Junior School, 28 September. |
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| The three photos above: Lara Kirsten giving a concert and improvisation workshop for the learners at Misty Meadows School under the pin-oak at her home in Lidgetton, the Kwazulu Natal Midlands, 29 October (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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The two photos above: Lara with her cousin and clarinetist Louis Kirsten. They performed the two sonatas for clarinet and piano op 120 by Brahms in Johannesburg, 29 November (photo: Kim Goodwin)
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Highlights of 2014
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| Hernandos Hideaway Gypsy concert with Eliot Short, Gwyneth Lloyd, Desiree Bonfiglio and Lara Kirsten at The Rose Theater, Hogsback, 4 January (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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| The four Gypsies - Gwyneth Lloyd, Eliot Short, Desiree Bonfiglio and Lara Kirsten (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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| Performance of Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's dream at the Fame Festival at the National School of the Arts, Johannesburg 24 Feb - 2 March. James Redfern, Laura Pauna and Lara Kirsten |
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| In rehearsal of Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzer with pianist Tessa Olivier and soprano Linelle Wimbles in Johannesburg (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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| In duet rehearsal Lara Kirsten and Jacques Heyns in Lidgetton, KwaZulu Natal Midlands (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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| Lara Kirsten after her performance at Sunfield Home for mentally challenged adults in Howick, 13 May |
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| Lara Kirsten and cellist Francois le Roux in recital at the Kindlewood soiree in Johannesburg, 24 August (photo: Dalena Nel) |
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| Tenor Sandile Mabaso and Lara Kirsten after their concert at the Sandton Theater on the Square, 29 August (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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| Lara Kirsten and Thomas de Bruin in rehearsal in Cape Town (photo: Andries Jordaan) |
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| Lara Kirsten and Thomas de Bruin in performance at the Heuer Musikhaus in Stellenbosch, 25 September (photo: Andries Jordaan) |
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| Lara Kirsten reciting poetry at the Hogsback Spring Festival as part of the Ecca Poets' launch of their latest book Unplanned Hour, 3 October (photo: Silke Heiss) |
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| Tenor Sandile Mabaso and Lara Kirsten in rehearsal at the Michaelhouse Chapel in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, 18 October (photo: Kim Goodwin) |
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| The series of photos above of tenor Sandile Mabaso and Lara Kirsten after their cconcert at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, 19 October (photos: by Kavish Rajpaul) |
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| Lara Kirsten performing her poetry at the McGregor Poetry Festival, 26 October |