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Up Close … with Andy Wirtz, teacher, wedding planner, singer and master of ceremony |22 May 2018

‘Only I can change my life; no one can do it for me’

 

Andy Wirtz is the son of veteran singer, composer, entertainer and songwriter John Wirtz. At only 37 years old, Andy has created a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Being the youngest of a small family of four, Andy has achieved so much in his life. He is currently employed as a teacher at the Independent School.

In our Up Close column this week, Andy talks about is childhood, family and friends along with his passion to entertain people.

 

Childhood and family

Born on January 17, 1981, Andy is the youngest in a family of four siblings. The other siblings are Marylou, Ned and Jacklin. He spent his school days at the Mont Fleuri primary and secondary schools.

“I didn't have an easy childhood. I was always big and chubby at primary school and was teased a lot by other students. They excluded me from most sports activities even during PE lessons. My only escape was music and songs. So I decided to just sing. In secondary school I was often singing in the weekly assemblies or representing the school in singing competitions. One year I trained my whole class of S4 with the help of some friends and two teachers and we went to sing Christmas carols at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino,” Andy says.

Andy comes from a family with a passion for music; his father – accomplished singer/songwriter John Wirtz -- still performs from time to time.

“Our family is very musical. My sister Marylou, who is the eldest, and myself are both members of the Seychelles National Choir. We have performed in several classical concerts and Christmas carol shows nationally and internationally. My brother Ned, the second in the family, taught himself how to play the guitar being left handed like me; he redid one of our dad’s songs which is regularly played on national radio. My other brother, Jacklin, is part of the National Brass Band of Seychelles and he plays the trombone. I don’t play any instrument because my voice is my instrument,” Andy says.

 

Love for music

Andy fell in love with music at a very young age, when he was still in crèche, known as kindergarten then. He learned all the nursery rhymes that the teachers taught him.

“I fell in love with singing at a very young age. I loved all the nursery rhymes teachers taught us. However, my dad likes a quiet home. So we didn't sing much at home or even listen to loud music. But that didn't stop me. For my holy communion, my grandmother (on my father's side) gave me my first hymn book and I joined the church choir, and that’s where I developed my skills as a singer,” he says.

His passion for music developed even further when he was at the National Youth Service (NYS), where he got the opportunity to perform more often.

“Church singing or gospel singing remains my first love. This is where it all started. As part of the choir we were often asked to sing during wedding ceremonies or funerals. Of course, often I will get a solo part or duet to do. Sometimes it's easy if the song requested is well known. Sometimes the requested song are not known to me, and on short notice I have to learn a new song to perform for the coming wedding or funeral,” Andy says.

 

Wedding planner and master of ceremony

 

 Besides being a gifted singer, Andy has got also another passion and that is  wedding planning. It all started in 2008, when one of his friends got married and he helped a lot in planning and organising the wedding and was also their MC and singer.

“I was a bit scared at first especially because my whole family was invited to the wedding and they would be hearing me sing and entertain for the first time too. My dad can be quite critical about our singing and to sing in front of him was even scarier. But when the ceremony started and I had my microphone and my music, everything just came naturally,” he recalls.

From that day Andy has been working hard to make his voice heard in the entertainment industry in Seychelles.  He even got the opportunity to act as MC in various hotels.

“When I'm your wedding MC, I don't only entertain the guests but I also sing between speeches and also the first dance song. As an MC I'm there early to ensure everything is ready to welcome the guests until midnight when the bride throws the bouquet. However, if on the programme they have some guest singers coming after midnight, I will stay to present each artist and to get the guests excited and on the dance floor.  I also do MC and sing for birthday parties, anniversaries, Holy Communion, Confirmation, graduation parties and baptism. For any event I'm your MC,” he says.

One of his biggest achievements was last year, when he was the MC for the Kempinski New Year’s Eve Gala Night. It was his second experience doing MC for a big gala night; in 2015 he also did for the Coral Strand Hotel.

“As a wedding MC and singer, I got the chance to experience weddings around Mahé and in five-star hotels such as Ephelia, Kempinski, Savoy, Avani among others. I've also been MC to weddings of couples from abroad, most of whom the brides were from Seychelles. I even got the chance to stay one night on North Island for a wedding at the resort there. I enjoy creating this fairy tale moment for the bride and groom and I try to make sure each wedding is different, unique to celebrate the bride and groom, so their views are important. Sometimes the groom's views are overlooked; I believe they should both have equal opportunity to contribute to their wedding,” he says.

 

Advice

“Apart from being a teacher if wedding planning in the Seychelles guaranteed a steady income, this would have been my dream job. For now, it remains a dream that I get to live maybe once a month, sometimes more than 10 times a year. Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me, never give up, that’s my way to face challenges. With hard work you’ll manage to get what you want,” he says.

 

 

 

 

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