A member of the Rhodes Quintet, Duncan Samson will be playing violin opposite Juan Muñoz in the Bach Concerto C in D Minor as part of the Juan, Mariel and Friends concert series starting this Sunday. He is studying for a Phd in Maths Education at Rhodes University
A member of the Rhodes Quintet, Duncan Samson will be playing violin opposite Juan Muñoz in the Bach Concerto C in D Minor as part of the Juan, Mariel and Friends concert series starting this Sunday. He is studying for a Phd in Maths Education at Rhodes University
What’s your greatest ambition in life?
I don’t really have an ultimate goal. I work hard at the things I enjoy and simply see what opportunities arise. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for me thus far.
Tell us something about you that nobody else knows.
My first spoken word was ‘train’. My dad’s a steam train fanatic which might explain it!.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Inadvertently blowing up a rather expensive distillation column while working for Sasol Technology many years ago.
How does Grahamstown rock for you?
Being able to walk in Featherstone Kloof and have the feeling of being miles away from civilisation.
If there was one thing that you could change about Grahamstown, what would it be?
Make it a vuvuzela-free zone. If you could be Mayor for a day what
would you do?
Same as above. Seriously, the novelty has worn off!
Who are your top three dinner guests?
Any three enthusiastic musicians. Forget the food and conversation, I’d rather spend the evening playing
chamber music.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?
A down-filled sleeping bag (there’s nothing worse than being unable to sleep because it’s too cold); an axe as I’m a pragmatist at heart; copious quantities of toilet paper – I’ll rough it with the best of them, but I have my limits!
What word best describes you?
Dependable.
What is your favourite recipe?
I can happily survive on fresh fruit and vegetables. If a meal takes more than 10 minutes to prepare then it’s
too much trouble. That said, I do have a killer recipe for gluten-free banana bread!
What is the best thing about Grahamstown?
I haven’t owned a car for nine years. I love the fact that I can get around everywhere on foot.
And the worst?
Do you know what it costs to re-sole shoes these days?!
What do you do in your spare time?
I don’t really buy into the notion of spare time – I’m always consciously doing something for a purpose.
What are you reading at the moment?
A delightful novel by Apostolos Doxiadis entitled Uncle Petros & Goldbach’s Conjecture.
What’s your favourite CD?
It’s diffi cult to choose just one, but I don’t think I’d be prepared to do without my recording of the Brahms string sextets. After all, if you’re going to eat the swine then you may as well let the fat drip from your chin!
