It is probably the most eagerly anticipated event on the Carnival all-inclusive fete schedule. Soka in Moka, held annually by Trinity College, is a perennial success if only because it is the first premium schools all-inclusive fete of the year, and first of the Carnival season.
Soka in Moka 2015 will be staged on Sunday, January 4, at 4 pm and its cast includes some of the heavyweights of recent carnivals including Roy Cape All Stars, featuring Blaxx and Ricardo Drue; Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lyons & The Asylum Vikings; Dil-e-Nadan, featuring Raymond Ramnarine and DJ Franco.
The first Soka in Moka was held on Sunday, January 9, 2000 and it featured Roy Cape with the Kaiso All Stars (as they were known then) and Bobby Quan's Blue Ventures with Ronnie Mc Intosh. Get this, the cost of a ticket was $175 all-inclusive and the attendance was just over 450 people. This year's do has an admission tag of $750. Through the years organisers have maintained the two-band format with aggregations like Surface, Atlantik, Roy Cape, Traffic and Dil-e-Nadan but, in 2008, Kes Dieffenthaller joined the cast to make it three bands, a format maintained since then annually.
Succession planning has been the cornerstone for the success of this fete with the only original members of the founding committee left on the current executive being former Trinity College vice-principal Janice Richards, the current committee chairman, and former teacher Anthony Hosten.
For the 2015 edition of Soka in Moka patrons can look forward to some changes in the look and feel of the bars and stage areas, as the promoters seek to provide a different visual experience every year.
Relatively new to the committee, PRO Dexter Charles said this week: "We are proud that 100 per cent of the profits from Soka in Moka goes back to the school. Over the years, a significant amount of money have been ploughed back into the college from the profits, among them being construction of a computer facility, fencing of the Basketball Court, the purchase steel pans for the Music department, completion of the third floor of the building and the purchase of two steel gates for the entrance and exits of the building. Of course there are about a dozen more projects completed that the profits funded."
Contributions to the college from Soka in Moka since 2008 round off around $350,000.
Scheduled to bring the curtain down on Soka in Moka 2015, Bunji, Fay Ann & The Asylum Vikings have something special planned for patrons.
Another premium school all-inclusive fete–Old Hilarians' All-Inclusive Carnival Fete–is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, at Bishop Anstey High School, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, at 5 pm.
This year marks the 19th edition of what is widely considered one of the best events on the annual carnival calendar. Reputed as one of the premier all-inclusives on the Carnival social calendar, the planning committee is working hard to keep that reputation intact. There is something for everyone and it is no coincidence that horse will return to the menu in the 19th year of the fete.
Next year will see three bands in the house–The Asylum Vikings frontlined by Bunji and Fay Ann, Dil-e-Nadan and Roy Cape All Stars. These will be complemented by scintillating performances by guest artistes.
Widely known as one of the 'must attend' events for the Carnival season, the Fete is the principal fundraiser for Bishop Anstey High School (St Hilary's) in Port-of-Spain. Over the years, proceeds from this event have assisted with funding capital-intensive projects such as the construction of two new classroom blocks, the repainting of the First Form building, the repairing of the school toilets, the enclosing and refurbishment of the school hall, and the landscaping of the beautiful grounds that current and former students of the school all know and love.
Tickets cost $850 and are available now from committee members Tonya (344-2334); Jeniece (791-8633); Debbie (681-2531); and Wanda (478-0035). For those in East, Central and South Trinidad, contact Janine at 336-9537.
As far as schools are concerned, after QRC's Fete Royal is held on January 10, and Old Hilarians' All-Inclusive Carnival Fete on the 17, The St Mary's College Past Students' Union will hold Fete With The Saints 2015: Saturday, January 24, 2015, from 6 pm to midnight. There is a major shift for next year's event as, instead of being held at the College on Pembroke Street, Port-of-Spain, where it has been held since its inception, it will be staged at St Mary's College Grounds, Serpentine Road, St Clair. Admission is $850 and music will be by Machel Montano and his band, Roy Cape All Stars, and DJs Nuphoric and Private Ryan.
The 2015 fete season actually begins the previous evening, January 3, when Tribe holds Tribe ICE at Jean Pierre Complex, Port-of-Spain. Next year's pre-Carnival season is a short one so fete, competitions and shows are chock-a-block from the first weekend of the year seven weeks.
Money for children mas
One million dollars. That the sum of the donation made last Friday to the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) for Carnival 2015. The NCBA hosted a sponsors' cheque distribution at More Vino, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook and also donating funds were Jet Blue ($100,000) and The Cropper Foundation ($40,000). The Foundation's cheque, which was presented to NCBA chairman David Lopez by Foundation trustee Ingrid White-Wilson and Nicola Cross, daughter of late Foundation co-founder Ulric Cross, was boosted through a contribution from the German Embassy.
The donations will subsidise the production and prizes of children Carnival competitions staged by the organisation, said Lopez.
White-Wilson said that the Foundation was encouraged to make its contribution to raise the awareness of environmental preservation amongst children between the ages of five-15.
Sparrow closes year in song
Having recovered from a coma he suffered last year Sparrow is back in good knick doing several performances at home and abroad. Come Monday, the Calypso King of the World brings the curtain down on his local appearances with a command performance at The Mas Camp, Woodbrook, at 8.30 pm.
A spokesman for the popular showplace said: "We are very excited by this final show of the year because we don't know when Birdie will be available to perform at home again. Beside his packed performing schedule overseas he also has a number of tests and medical appointments to keep. In recent months Sparrow has been tweaking his normal repertoire so for this show expect him to perform some of his past hits not sung for a long time."