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The titular Music-go-round concert on 6 of April 2025 is to celebrate famous Dutch born artist Amira Willighagen's 21st birthday, but also Gelukskinders' 10-year anniversary. The title is a play on the phrasal compound noun 'merry-go-round', as it implies that music from around the world will feature in the concert while also hinting at the roundabouts in Gelukskinders' playgrounds (also called merry-go-rounds). It also implies the unifying force of music, as it is a form of expression a community as a whole can understand without sharing a mother tongue, cultural values, and socio-cultural background. In this way, the concert brings together children from different socio-cultural backgrounds, and most importantly those who are underprivileged and would otherwise not have been given the opportunity to unravel their undiscovered (at least outside their communities) musical talent. The focus of the concert is therefore on community outreach and outsourcing local talent. The choir is made up of children between the ages 12-18 from different schools in and around Potchefstroom. The dancers, however, have been selected from Ikalafeng School in Ikageng. The leading cast, i.e., the Von Trapp family has been uniquely cast from local talent, in which Amira Willighagen features as Maria, the run-away nun from the Sound of Music. These children will have the unique opportunity to perform alongside her on a stage. Amira will also star as Mary Poppins, and her father, Gerrit Willighagen, will be accompanying her on the organ. The production of the concert is completely locally based in Potchefstroom, including the Musical Directing, arrangements, Stage Manager, choreographer, sound and light technician, and costume design. The NG Miederpark Gemeente, the church in which the concert will be held, also houses an enormous organ, which will be used in some of the items, and it is a most welcoming location to people from within the community. Despite everyone's differences, all attendees and participants will have in common a general appreciation for musical acuity.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
De Zandkuil 21, 1974RH, De Zandkuil 21, 1974 RH IJmuiden, Nederland,IJmuiden, Velserbroek, Netherlands
