Classical Piano Concert – St James School, Durban, South Africa

Dates:
Sunday 4:00pm AEDT
9^th of November 2025

Programme:
Concert time – 30mins
Slides & Presentation – 10mins
Light refreshments will be served.

Cost: $20
Includes free “Calm” CD

• Door sales available
• Cash or Credit Card

MacLaren Hall
Melbourne School of Philosophy
45 Riversdale Road
Hawthorn VIC 3122

St James is a not for profit independent primary school founded in January 2007. Like the Erasmus School in Hawthorn, St James is one of the worldwide family of Renaissance Schools established in the belief that a good education is based on the philosophic concept of unity, can lead one to Truth and fulfillment in life. St James offers a full South African Curriculum together with specialist subjects including Sanskrit, philosophy, music, art, speech and drama training. The children are given the finest of spiritual care and nurture.

Matthew was 12 years old; he came to the dinner table with a dilemma, wondering what to do to help others as a ‘Winter project’ for school.

Then there was a phone call from the UK – it was a good family friend Richard Elias, who was also Chairman of the fundraising committee for St. James Primary School in Durban South Africa.

He told us that the then head of the School Ms Anisha Ramlaul, was touring Australia to raise funds so that the school could continue to function.

It was a grueling timetable involving most Australian capital cities as well as Auckland and Wellington; he asked if our family could host her to give her a few days break. None of us knew anything about Anisha or St James School in Durban! However, Matthew immediately said, ‘I know, I’ll make a CD to raise funds for the school for my winter project’.

He then went to the piano and played ‘Calm’ and two other original works which he thought would go well on a CD. We spent 2 days at home recording, improvising etc and ‘Calm’ was produced.

Help arrived from local piano tuners, friends in Melbourne and Sydney who helped with recording, design, photos, printing and distribution – all donated. Well-wishers also organised a concert for Matt to launch ‘Calm’ at the Erasmus School in Melbourne.