While the second day of the Hilton Festival dawned bright and clear, many artistes and musicians faced the day with a heavy heart when news got round that Carol Muir (28) had been tragically killed in a head-on collision on September 16.

The bubbly and engaging KZN Philharmonic violinist was married to the orchestra’s manager, Alasdair Muir, and was seven months pregnant with their first child who also did not survive the accident.

Carol was also the daughter-in-law of Willie Muir, principal of violas. It was a saddened orchestra that performed that afternoon in the Hilton College Theatre and Carol’s empty chair was adorned with a single rose.