By day Zweli Daniel designs complicated electrical energy systems for local schools – but by night he transforms into a virtuoso violinist.
Daniel, 30, was spotted in his nighttime incarnation this week as a smartly-dressed minstrel drifting through clouds of expensive cologne wafting off the massive deck of the gracious Olivewood Private Estate & Golf Club overlooking the green, rolling hills of Chintsa.
Vivaldi was being played live to prospective buyers of homes with an entry level price tag of R2.5-million.
As they hung out amid flowers and the greenest of lawns and quaffed fine champagne and ate smoked salmon lollypops, the kid who grew up around the corner from Steve Biko’s house regaled them with amazing music.
A warm, friendly man, Daniel weaved his way through the crowd until speech time and then packed his beloved violin into its case and hung out with the other musos on the bill.
This was a boy who came out of the easternmost rural areas at the age of 13 to live in Ginsberg not far from Steve Biko’s house. Daniel has had music in him since the day he became conscious of sound.
It grew through choral music, singing in the school choir and learning about and playing jazz and classical music with his lifelong friend, guitarist Duncan Mayabe.
His musical life hit a sharp clear note on the day he matriculated from Bhisho High School, and enrolled with the Legato Academy in Bhisho where he formally learned to read music.
The academy is supported by the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, but while the other 23 kids were spending their monthly R600 stipend, Daniel saved his and was finally able to walk into Lee Gold in East London and buy his own, entry-level violin for R1200. He made a name for himself at the academy, and travelled to the National Arts Festival to play in in The Crucifixion.
But a salaried profession beckoned and it was off to Bloemfontein in his early 20s to study for a national diploma in electrical engineering at the Central University of Technology which he completed in 2014. His day job consists of doing electrical engineering work for the Beacon Bay-based Eye Sizwe consulting engineers, which includes designing the electrical reticulation systems for St John’s Primary in central East London and Lumko High in Amalinda.
But at night, the concert master of Buffalo City Metro’s orchestra is arranging pieces and solos for the orchestra to perform.
Last year he could finally fulfil his journey in search of the holy grail; he made his way back to Lee Gold and put down R50000 in hard-earned cash for his first professional violin, an Arcadia.
“I shed a tear just looking at my new-born baby,” he said.
He is also busy with his four-year Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree through Unisa .
What is his hardest solo piece? Vivaldi’s Summer Conerto, which he proceeded to play for me under the stars. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Crafty engineer adds extra string to his bow
Daniel, 30, was spotted in his nighttime incarnation this week as a smartly-dressed minstrel drifting through clouds of expensive cologne wafting off the massive deck of the gracious Olivewood Private Estate & Golf Club overlooking the green, rolling hills of Chintsa.
Vivaldi was being played live to prospective buyers of homes with an entry level price tag of R2.5-million.
As they hung out amid flowers and the greenest of lawns and quaffed fine champagne and ate smoked salmon lollypops, the kid who grew up around the corner from Steve Biko’s house regaled them with amazing music.
A warm, friendly man, Daniel weaved his way through the crowd until speech time and then packed his beloved violin into its case and hung out with the other musos on the bill.
This was a boy who came out of the easternmost rural areas at the age of 13 to live in Ginsberg not far from Steve Biko’s house. Daniel has had music in him since the day he became conscious of sound.
It grew through choral music, singing in the school choir and learning about and playing jazz and classical music with his lifelong friend, guitarist Duncan Mayabe.
His musical life hit a sharp clear note on the day he matriculated from Bhisho High School, and enrolled with the Legato Academy in Bhisho where he formally learned to read music.
The academy is supported by the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, but while the other 23 kids were spending their monthly R600 stipend, Daniel saved his and was finally able to walk into Lee Gold in East London and buy his own, entry-level violin for R1200. He made a name for himself at the academy, and travelled to the National Arts Festival to play in in The Crucifixion.
But a salaried profession beckoned and it was off to Bloemfontein in his early 20s to study for a national diploma in electrical engineering at the Central University of Technology which he completed in 2014. His day job consists of doing electrical engineering work for the Beacon Bay-based Eye Sizwe consulting engineers, which includes designing the electrical reticulation systems for St John’s Primary in central East London and Lumko High in Amalinda.
But at night, the concert master of Buffalo City Metro’s orchestra is arranging pieces and solos for the orchestra to perform.
Last year he could finally fulfil his journey in search of the holy grail; he made his way back to Lee Gold and put down R50000 in hard-earned cash for his first professional violin, an Arcadia.
“I shed a tear just looking at my new-born baby,” he said.
He is also busy with his four-year Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree through Unisa .
What is his hardest solo piece? Vivaldi’s Summer Conerto, which he proceeded to play for me under the stars. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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