26 September 2009

Same Road Different Paths - David Pereira and Duncan n. Sargeant

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Tilley’s Devine Café presents: David Pereira and Duncan n. Sargeant “Same Road, Different Paths” an intimate night of music celebrating Mental Health Week:

8:30 pm Saturday the 10th October
Tilley’s Devine Café, cnr Wattle and Brigalow Sts Lyneham
Tickets: $20 full and $10 concession
Proceeds to: ACT Mental Health Foundation, St. Vincent de Paul and BCS Open Arts program

Self–taught acoustic guitarist and storyteller, Duncan n. Sargeant and classical cellist, David Pereira are two musicians from vastly different backgrounds. For one night only, they will team up to present a bill of classical music, pop tunes and original compositions in support of Mental Health Week.

Sargeant is a prolific local songwriter and performer. He has released one self-titled solo CD of his own tracks and has an instrumental album pending release later this year. He is currently studying for a diploma of music at CIT. Sargeant lives with mental illness on a daily basis. In his late teens he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression. He is now in his early thirties and has been managing this illness for nearly half his life.

This will be the sixth annual concert that Duncan has initiated and performed in for Mental Health Week. From day one these concerts have been supported by Belconnen Community Centre’s Arts and Mental Health programs. Sargeant says the idea behind the concerts is to, “challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness – to inform people that mental illness is not a big bogeyman to be worried about.” David Pereira’s impressive credits include seven years as Principal Cellist of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and eighteen years as senior lecturer at the ANU School of Music as well as an extensive catalogue of CD releases.

Sargeant and Pereira met five years ago when they shared a room in Calvary hospital. Pereira was seriously ill at the time and had stopped playing cello. He says, “Duncan was practicing all the time – I got to listen a lot. It was clear to me that he was a true musician.” David Pereira has been well for some years and since his recovery he has become a patron of the ACT Mental Health Foundation and an advocate for greater education and research about mental illness, particularly Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which he describes as “reasonable concern gone mad to the point where it can be life threatening.”

Pereira says, “Making music can be a very healthy activity. Duncan and I both know about playing to get well.” On October 10, Pereira and Sargeant will play several duets and will also perform separately. Pereira will be joined by pianist, Kylie Loveland for songs by Richard Strauss and “Jungle Fever” by Mattew Hindson. Sargeant will play his own unique blend of composition, songs and stories. He encourages all to attend this event for, “good music, good stories, good times.”

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