Stelpe Our Home: Con Brio concert in Stelpe

On their first ever international tour, choir Con Brio performed in Stelpe School. "Surprising, incredibly good concert", "They sang with real ardour", "They sang in a very youthful manner" - these are just a few expressions we heard after the concert. Many listeners were moved to tears, especially, when the choir sang the song they had learned in Latvian.

The accompanist Lisa had come from Egypt to help the choir out on the tour. She works there as a piano teacher and will go back in the end of August.

Musicians and music teachers Māra Lagzdiņa and Līga Karpinska, who had already seen one concert in Vecumnieki, came again and brought their children with them. They also performed a composition of C. Saint-Saens. When I said jokingly that their music today was more for the guests, they agreed but said that they were playing for everyone. After the concert, they said that they had enjoyed not only the wonderful music made by the English choir but also the whole welcoming atmosphere in the hall of Stelpe School.

Stelpians had prepared a little concert for the choir. Kristīne Rulle played guitar and sang together with Maija Pelūde and Elīna Dzenīte. Little dancers performed two Latvian traditional dances. Their teacher is Lasma Skābuliņa.

Sabīne Mikalone played two compositions on the Latvian traditional instrument kokle. She was very warmly received and earned lots of applause. This may have been one of her very best performances. She seemed to be living in the music she was playing.

Some members of the choir had taken with them their home craft items from which they made a small exhibition at the entrance to the hall. A bunch of soft knitted teddy-bears was given to the school for distribution to the kids who might like them.

After the concert, the choir had a walk in the vicinity of the school and took lots of pictures.

In the evening, Valerie and Roger Hazelden invited the choir to a garden party. Their neighbors Kristīne and Agnis offered even more space for the large group on their premises.

The choir expressed their gratitude to Valerie and Roger for organizing the visit and program. In return, they invited their friends from the choir to come back some time with their families and friends. They said their heart and house is always open for them.

When we had parted, and the coach with most of the choir driven away, we took Simon, a young man from the choir who was staying in Stelpe, out to a night walk in Stelpe forest. The full moon was shining, and the walk in the silence was really enjoyable. Simon said he felt this to be a special treat for him.

Con Brio start their concert in Stelpe under the guidance of Shirley Smith, the conductor and the heart and soul of the choir