By GETHSEMANE MWIZABI –

A combination of international classical musicians is in the country to stage a series of performances, alongside some Zambian guest artistes, in a classical music festival, titled ‘Les Promenades Musicales’.
The event which has been scheduled to take place from Sunday 5th to Saturday, October 11, 2014, in Lusaka under the leadership of German Music instructor Theo Bross, will start with a free-of-charge family day at Café Vienna, where children will present a concert at 15:00hrs, before the main opening concert is staged later in the evening at 19:30hours.
Monday (the 6th) will see the commemoration of 100 years anniversary of the First World War, with a Piano Recital by visiting artiste, Maxime Zechini at 19:30 hours, while on Tuesday (the 7th) will feature a Zambian opera group, the Vox Zambezi and friends, with a new CD presentation. On Wednesday (8th), The Stuttgart Percussion Duo of Se-Mi Hwang and Lukas Ehret, will perform at 19:30hours, while Friday (the 10th), will be a night of Baroque Music, with the Lusaka Chamber orchestra performing, Violoncello and Direction.
The final day of the concert, Saturday (the 11th) will be a night at the opera, combining performances of the Lusaka Music Society Choir and International artistes.
In a statement to Times DStv Entertainment, Bross who is the initiator of the festival, which has since become a yearly event in Zambia, from as far as 2001 said cultural integration and collaboration of foreign and local artistes is one of the main goals of this. Previous and possible future visitations of his group, as they hope to influence the penetration of professional classic music in the country, through encouraging local Zambians to both attend and participate in the performances.
“We want to work with local artistes to help to build up and develop classical musical life in Zambia,” says Bross, adding that with the improvement of local skills in this area, music will be made more professional in the country, thereby increasing the quality of the performances that the Zambian public can be treated to.
So far, Zambians have shown a growing interest in such classical music as orchestra, piano performances and opera, among others, as the number of local Zambians that attend these events has also increased over the years.
Among the local artistes that Bross works with in the country are the Lusaka Music Society as well as church music groups.
Some of the partners that support him include the Germany Embassy, the Alliance Francaise and others.
Theo Bross’s Brief Biography: Award-winning orchestra and artistic director, with programmes, pieces and projects all over the world. Played in various International Orchestras and ensembles, all over Europe and recorded several CD’s and radio productions. Studied music in Stuttgart, Budapest and Paris, and now musical ambassador to Zambia, trying to develop professional classic music, here.