5th Avenue

Instrumentation

5th Avenue's core unit is a Duo, consisting of accordion & violin.  However, instruments can be added to increase the band from a 2-piece to a 5-piece band. The additional instruments are double bass/electric bass, guitar and either percussion or drums. In any combination they give a dynamic and versatile performance. As a duo, the group is completely mobile which in itself creates a special and intimate atmosphere.

Notable venues

Lord Charles Hotel, Mount Nelson Hotel, Arabella Hotel, Table Bay Hotel, Le Franschhoek Hotel, CTICC, V&A Waterfront, Castle of Good Hoop, Backsberg, Blaauwklippen, Bloemendal, Constantia,  Clouds Estate, Delviera, Delheim, Durbanville Hills, Hazendal, Kleine Zalze, Lanzerac, La Petite Dauphine, La Motte, Molenfliet, Morgenhof, Meerendal, Neethlingshof, Nelson’s Creek, Nooitgedacht, Saxenburg, Spier, Simonsig, Webersburg, Zorgvliet and Zevenwacht

Members

Jacek Domagala (Violin)

Jacek was born in Poland where he completed his Masters Degree in Violin Performance at the internationally acclaimed Wroclaw Music Academy. Thereafter he joined the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra and was then invited to play in the “Leopoldium” Chamber Orchestra, which toured all over Europe and some eastern countries.

In 1990 he and his family moved to South Africa where he played for the South African National Symphony Orchestra. In 1993 he received an invitation to join the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, now known as the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, where he currently shares the first violin desk.

Jacek also performed as first violinist of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra during Luciano Pavarotti’s South African leg of his world wide tour. More recently he toured with the CPO to the USA giving a series of concerts. As a member of the CTT Ensemble, they received a SAMA nomination for the best instrumental album of 2010.

Jacek’s interaction with his audiences is one of his “trademarks” besides the fact that he is a very skilled player. He is certainly one of South Africa’s most versatile violinists.

André van Vuuren (Accordion)

André was a member of one of the SADF Entertainment units as a pianist, accordionist and arranger. He then left to perform solo while completing his studies. He has also recorded for the SABC and under leading labels such as Sony, Select and Vonk.

During the Bloemfontein Volksblad Kunstefees 2006 he performed in the award winning production Altyd Jonker, a show based on the life of South African poet, Ingrid Jonker. In the same year he was also invited to perform at the launch of South Africa’s first ever Bollywood film production in South Africa. Andre also performed for the group Conf8 at the 2010 KKNK as part of an American sponsored initiative.

More recently he performed in the Brundibar opera in Cape Town. He also performed with the award winning band Zamar at the South African wedding of the prince and princess of Monaco, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.

In Cape Town he has performed at almost all of its main venues and also performed in not less than 1600 corporate events, festivals, private functions and concerts country wide. He play on a true muzette accordion, especially suited for French café music. He distinguishes himself from the rest not only by his high standard of performance, but also because he is totally mobile and moves around while playing. This in itself creates a very intimate atmosphere.