Machiel Roets
Machiel Roets is a Harrismith-born composer, singer and songwriter. He finished his M.Mus at the Thames Valley University in London. One of the highlights of his time in England was teaching vocals to a young Amy Winehouse, and working as a featured pianist on the Graham Norton show in episodes featuring Phil Collins, Eric McCormack (Will and Grace) and Val Kilmer. He was the musical director for various shows in London, including Hairspray and West Side Story, which was also performed at the Ductac Theatre in Dubai. He also composed a jingle for “Dettol” and the advert showed in 7 different countries.
Machiel has written the scores for four major films including “Pretville”. His theme song for the film “Liefling” sung by Bobby van Jaarsveld, remained a number one hit on Radio Stations across South-Africa for almost a year. He also received two Naledi nominations for best musical director of “Liefling” on stage and “Aspoesterjie”, both performed at the State theatre in Pretoria.
Costa André Georghiou
Past diplomat and current Emeritus Professor at the University of Johannesburg. Where he taught International Relations, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy and Methodology until 2022. Costa is passionate about music and started playing the piano at the age of nine.
He started classical lessons in Harrismith with Mrs Gretchel Reitz and later jazz piano with Mrs Mona du Plessis. In 1970, at the age of 12, he participated in a national organ talent contest and won an Otto Bach piano as first prize. An accomplished pianist, he has been the leader of the Stardust jazz band which, in the 1980s and 1990s, performed at soirées, concerts, casinos and restaurants throughout South Africa. Many Pretoria patrons will remember jazz at After Dark restaurant on Sundays, which featured Costa’s band. Stardust also accompanied many well-known artists such as Al Debbo, Nadine Blom, Alida White and performed at the State Theatre in Pretoria in 2009.
As a hobby, Costa writes poetry. His first anthology, Oblivium was published in 2018.
Other contributors
- Ephraim Mosokotso – pianist
- Shay Steyn – harpist
- Dané van Graan – piano
- Jackie Badenhorst – piano
- Martin Lewer-Allen – bagpipes
- Ané Geel – flute and pan flute
- Mia Prinsloo – Swiss alp bells