Carpe Musicam!

is  the  realization of a dream of the George, South Africa-based musical partnership of    

Elsabe Barkhuizen and Norman Carless. 

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Elsabe is a very experienced and sought after church organist, pianist, accompianist and harpsichordist 

​who has been playing professionally since the age of  12.   

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Norman has had a long and successful career in 

South African military bands and orchestras.

He was Bandmaster of the South African Navy before his retirement in 2003.

He is a  conductor and multi-instrumentalist,

performing regularly on

Trumpet, Cornet, Flugel Horn, Flute, Recorder and French Horn.

He is also a Master Arranger and Orchestrator,

specialising in custom orchestrations of  popular works  

for unusual groupings of instruments.

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We have been performing together since 2009 in an incredible variety of genres and styles. As a  musical duo we are as comfortable performing

Baroque and Classical masterworks on Pipe Organ and Trumpet in a Cathedral, as we are leading a congregation in uplifting song, 

improvising on popular music on Piano and Flute in an up-market restaurant

or entertaining Senior Citizens.

 

In 2015 we were able to form the 

 

                                               

and in 2017 the 

 

 

and we have also pioneered the  

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We are great believers that music must always be  

  pleasant and enjoyable for

  performers and audience alike.

Or as we like to put it:

"If the fellow in the back row,

who only came in to get out of the rain,

walks out whistling one of our tunes,

we've done our job right...".

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Our fondest dream is to build a musical performance group

comprising members of all sectors of society

which is able to entertain  and educate

the widest possible cross-section of the public as humanly possible.

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The London Promenade Concerts -

often billed as the world's largest and most democratic musical festival -

started off as the dream of impresario

Robert ​​Newman, 

who wished to generate a wider audience for concert hall music

by offering low ticket prices and an informal atmosphere.

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We would like to think that we are following in Robert Newman's footsteps -

in however small a measure.

Indeed, the orchestra's mascot is named in honour of Sir Henry Wood -

the most famous conductor of the Proms.

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