Music and merriment

Barbara Ellington, Public Affairs Editor

It was an intimate gathering of friends and colleagues and music students who met at the Stony Hill residence of pianist extraordinaire Douglasse Burrulace on Sunday, June 30, for his 71st birthday celebration.

Attired in black, the birthday 'boy' looked many years younger than the proclamation of his birth certificate, and he went from group to group ensuring that his guests were having a grand time as they sipped cocktails and sampled nibbles in the courtyard.

It is hard to be in the company of musicians and not experience their talent. So the party moved into Burrulace's living room where he thrilled all with selections from Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Chopin. He was joined by soloist Monica and one of his students, Gabrielle Lyn. The host introduced each piece with a brief synopsis of each and reminisced on his boyhood days when he had no piano to play, and when on one occasion the chair was pulled from under him as it was thought he had overstayed his welcome at someone's keyboard.

"Look at me now. I won my own grand piano and, at my age, I can still play and I am enjoying good health," Burrulace said, announcing that his fans will hear him in concert later this year as he was now practising for that performance. An enjoyable time was had by all.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com

Photos by Barbara Ellington/Photographer