We have two new volunteers, Jessica Honey and Danielle Craig, who are both proficient musicians. They began their work here in February, and in March we celebrated both their birthdays. Jessica was 19 and we had a dinner with a heart-shaped birthday cake cooked by the mother of two of our students. Danielle, who is a few years older, chose a breakfast party for her celebration.
Both girls are proficient musicians. Jessica has a diploma in singing and has begun a singing class on Saturday morning. Danielle plays the flute and recorder, and has a diploma with distinction in the latter, and she also sings. She is continuing the recorder class previously led by Isobel and Sarah Peyton-Jones.
Danielle is experienced in baroque music, because the recorder is a key instrument in baroque, and she auditioned in March for the Paraguay Barroco group, at the suggestion of our harp teacher, Victoria Oviedo, who has long been a member of the group. Danielle was warned beforehand that she would not be selected, because they were looking for someone permanent and she is only here until June. But when they actually heard her sing and play her recorder they changed their mind, and gave her the coveted place with their group in the international festival of baroque music in Chiquitos, Bolivia, in April. We are immensely proud of her. As well as singing soprano and playing the recorder, she will play a bizarre percussion instrument, which is the jawbone of a donkey. When you hit it hard, the teeth rattle.
