Entertainer Michael de Pinna’s popular soirees and music lessons beckon

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Some time in March, I was invited to a concert with a difference held at a venue called Causeseries in memory of David de Pinna, the late father of well known entertainer Micahel  de Pinna. His father was an equally well known London stage actor.

At the Causeries Michael de Pinna is currently hosting a popular series of soirees in collaboration with talented singer Hlumelo Ledwaba

De Pinna plies his trade on TV and film as an actor as well as a musician.

Those who went to the concerts held in an intimate setting of the musician’s home in Atholl, Sandton, all sang praises of the concert. I missed the most recent concert because I had another commitment and necessitated a change of plans.

Another opportunity came along as it were on April 3, 2022, but again I could not make it as this time around I was coming back from the KKHK Festival in the Karoo town of. Although the concert was in the evening, my plane landed late on that afternoon at OR Tambo International Airport, flying from George Airport in the Western Cape.  Again I missed the concert because was exhausted by the three days of cultural immersion at the festival in the Karoo.

Again those that attended the Michael’s soiree concert sung praises of it, like a broken record, suggesting that they indeed had so much fun there.

Now I am waiting for being third time luck, that is If I crack another invitation to the next soiree, and it may be pretty soon.

And as Lady Luck would have it, I bumped on Michael on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at the Rosebank Sunday Market while I was whiling time there on a rather chilly and rainy Joburg day. We warmed ourselves up by having a few drinks at a bar run by journalist-turned entrepreneur Louise McAuliffe, who happens to be assisting Michael in marketing these popular soirees. The videos that Louise has shot so far of the series of concerts, are telling about the quality of entertainment offered by these soirees to Johannesburg suburban residents that have been denied this privilege of watching live music for the past two years due to Covid-19 restrictions strictly followed..

But now that the infection rate has receded government regulations allow venues to fill up to 50% of their capacity, with Covid-19 protocols strictly followed.

But when I met him on Sunday, the entertainer told me briefly about the idea of these soirees, as well as some of his memorable shows that he has taken part in over the years, spanning film, TV, radio, and advertising. And of course the idea of the current soirees that he has started at his home.

It turns out that not only is he hosting these soirees, inviting a few talented singers to perform with him, but some of those that he invites are his friends and students of this music academy that he holds at his home.

One of them is Hlumelo Ledwaba.

“She is a music teacher at UNISA, but she is also my student receiving music lessons with a number of other students that are enrolled for these lessons I give at my studio.  When I first met her, we just hit it off, and I therefore invited her to be part of the soirees. She is immensely talented. We will announce new dates for the next performances soon, and hopefully I will have Hlumelo again as part of the next series,” Michael told CITYLIFE/ARTS.

And those who believe they have it and need their skills to be polished, preparing them for the stage, they are invited to attend Michael’s lessons at his studio.

“Imagine not only fine tuning your voice but also being directed on just how to perform! Whether your goal is to go professional OR sing better in the shower… then look no further than to Michael de Pinna!

Experience beyond compare from his early beginnings entertaining on stage around the globe, multiple film and television appearances, cabaret, extravaganzas, ocean entertainment and stage direction – de Pinna is currently a much sought after vocal teacher for musical theatre, performance, drama, microphone techniques, diction and interpretation.

de Pinna will get you ready for an audition at the theatre, film, television and musical performances under his expert guidance in his Performance Studio situated in Atholl, Sandton, Johannesburg. de Pinna presents his students talent regularly at The Causerie,” statement from his marketing team  states.

You might of course remember  de Pinna in the long running  Vodacom TV advert Yebo Gogo and one of the most successfully Nolywood movie called The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai ((2017)

“I played the role of an English father whose daughter is getting married to a  powerful Nigerian clan.. The movie was shot both in Nigeria and Dubai. This movie is an example of elegance,” he said about the movie which was made available for streaming on Netflix and was well received by a global film audience a few years ago.

FOLLOW https://www.facebook.com/MichaeldePinnaPresents to see when the next show takes place.

EMAIL to set up your first lesson or make further enquiries: michaeldepinna@gmail.com

OR WHATSAPP: 082 990 2429

Visit www.michaeldepinna.co.za for more information about Michael de Pinna

Follow him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.depinna.3