Debra Li

    MORE than 10 expat musicians and six lovely children from the local expatriate community entertained guests for three hours at the charity party organized by the Shenzhen Daily on Saturday afternoon.

    Opening the show at the Sheraton Hotel in Futian District were the sounds of bagpipes from the Scottish highlands. Dressed in traditional Scottish kilts, John and Aragorn Simpson, twin brothers from Toronto, Canada, performed two numbers they had adapted from five songs, including “Amazing Grace.” Their performance moved the audience with its somber tone.

    Classical music fans passionately applauded Olivia Skwara, who performed a beautiful rendition of Chopin’s “Nocturne.” Skwara is a past winner of the International Festival for Young Pianists in Poland.

    One of the best performances of the afternoon, given by violinist Gleb Dontsov from Russia, pianist Skwara and Dontsov’s wife, Mariana, on violin, offered a well-chosen and contemplated rendition of “Theme from Schindler’s List” by John Williams. When Steven Spielberg directed this brave Holocaust drama, his longtime musical collaborator used the opportunity to display both the depth and maturity of his musical gifts and training, producing a score with sad, evocative melodies that struck many sympathetic hearts. With subtlety, the piece carried by Dontsov fit right into the theme of the charity party aiming to raise money for Sichuan quake victims. The trio also performed Jerome Kern’s “Smoke Gets into Your Eyes” and Stephane Grappelli’s “Tango.”

    Also winning loud cheers were the four lovely Diaz-Ambrona children from Spain. The four, aged 6, 7, 9 and 10, sang “My Chinese Heart,” a song made popular by Hong Kong singer Cheung Ming-man on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 1984. “Though of Spanish origin, we were born in Hong Kong and have lived in Shenzhen almost all our lives so far. We love China and have the best wishes for children in Sichuan who suffer from the earthquake,” they told the audience. The quartet also performed “Cela.”

    Jordan Dotson from the United States played guitar as he performed a song he wrote especially for the quake victims. “It’s gonna be alright,” he sang passionately. Dotson said he felt inspired to write the song after watching TV footage showing the sad look on the face of a boy in the quake-hit area.

    Pop singers David Seymour, Xavier Baptiste, Emily Brule and band Back To Mars rocked the audience with their unique styles and moving songs. Spicing up the party were two Indian children, the Padki twins, who danced to the tune “It’s time to disco.”