The Youth Music Festival 2015, hosted by The T&T Music Festival Association � North Committee concluded on Sunday at Queen's Hall, St Ann's.
Judged from March 10-14, only the first place winner of each of the 27 competition classes was invited to compete for the Adjudicator's Award of "Overall Winner" of the following groupings: Vocal Solo � Boy; Vocal Solo � Girl; Instrumental Solo (Recorder or Violin); Vocal Ensemble (Girls); Vocal Ensemble (Boys); Steel Pan Solo; Piano Solo; Piano Duet; School Band or Pan Ensemble; School Choir � Upper Voices; School Choirs � Lower Voices; and School Folk Song Choir or Calypso Chorale.
One of the highlights on Sunday was the face-off between Luke Walker of St Mary's College and Shenelle George from St Joseph's Convent (SJC-POS). Both winners in their respective age categories, Walker was beaten by George. Walker played Around the World Medley, and of his performance the adjudicator said: "confident, defiant, rock steady on the notes."
George played her own choice, Tempest, and the adjudicator said she did "a fantastic job, with beautiful dynamics. Got the sense of the storm building–the tempest."
On Saturday, Walker, a CAL Invaders Steel Orchestra prodigy, easily placed first in the Class 28 Steel Pan Solo, 12 to 15 years category. The adjudicator described him as a "virtuoso" who had "a great sense of the music" and has "mastered the instrument at an early age." Patrons were seen nodding in agreement.
Also on Saturday morning, El Do West Junior Calypso Chorale narrowly beat Bishop Anstey High School (BAHS) in the Junior Calypso Chorale category, with a rivetting performance of David Rudder's Calypso Music. Just five chorales participated and they all were a joy to listen to, adding flavour to the pre-lunch session.
The Class 29 Single Pan solo, 16 to 19 years category, closed the long morning session smoothly with Providence Girls of Belmont taking first place with Shenelle George's performance. George scored 88 points.
The afternoon's performance was exciting, starting with the Secondary School Choirs singing Clap Yo' Hands.
There were some exciting arrangements and interpretations by the four choirs which performed. But, scoring 90 points, St Joseph's Convent Port-of-Spain (SJC) Choir stole first place from BAHS with their wonderful tone, "beautiful strong gospel singing" which was "true to the gospel style," according to adjudicator Dr Henry.
Lots more music was to come on Saturday afternoon when the six secondary school ensembles, in the 19 years and Under category, performed their own-choiced pieces.
In this contest, the Holistic Music School Band, being a "well travelled band with well tuned instruments," easily secured first place. The adjudicator commented highly on their "discipline and dedication."
The late evening session ended on Saturday with nine out of 15 Girls Vocal Duets performing The Evening Star by Robert Schuman. With "good phrasing, a faster tempo, a unified vowel sound," one of SJC-POS's six vocal duets took home the top prize, as well as the honour and glory from their rivals.
The weekend's competition also featured guest performances from three alumni winners of the T&T Music Festival: Keisha Martinez, violinist (Romance #2 � Stenhammar); Alan Cooper, pianist (Finale � Presto non tanto: Sonata Op. 58/3; Chopin), and Rahel Moore, soprano (Chi Bel Sogno; Puccini and Creole Girl).
On behalf of The T&T Music Festival Association � Central Committee, chairman Victor Prescod made a "surprise" special presentation of Joslynne Carr-Sealey for her decades of service to the festival: first as a competitor who has evolved into a valued festival administrator and consultant.
"Because we were not able to host the traditional biennial music festival in 2014," said Maureen Manchouck, Chairman � TTMFA-NC, "it was decided to host a mini 'youth' festival in 2015 for the benefit of interested high school students.
"Additionally, we were aware that audience attendance would not have been as large as normal. However, our focus was about the participants. We wanted them to have a 'music festival memory' before they graduate(d).
In 2016 (next year), the Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival Association will be hosting its full national, month-long, music festival."
The Youth Music Festival 2015, hosted by The T&T Music Festival Association � North Committee was sponsored by The Ministry of Arts & Multiculturalism, British Gas (Republic of T&T), National Gas Company, and Eximbank.
�2 San Fernando also hosted the Youth Music Festival in San Fernando. (Reporting by Peter Ray Blood)
March 15 Junior Finale results
Champion Vocal Solo � Boy
Daniel Roberts (Passing By)
Champion Vocal Solo � Girl
Dominique Akal (Evening Prayer)
Champion Instrumental Solo (Recorder Or Violin)
Chelsea Fensom (Chanson De Matin)
Champion Vocal Ensemble (Girls)
Sjc Trio Prima (Dancing The Baby)
Champion Vocal Ensemble (Boys)
Fatima College Trio Blue (Brothers Forever)
Champion Steel Pan Solo
Shenelle George (Tempest)
Champion Piano Solo
Kriya Narine (Arietta & Allegro Scherzando)
Champion Piano Duet
Jerome Ifill And Maia Labastide (The Swan)
Champion School Band Or Pan Ensemble
The Holistic Music School Band (Feeling Good)
Champion School Choir � Upper Voices
St Joseph Convent Pos Choir (Clap Yo' Hands)
Champion School Choirs � Lower Voices
Fatima College Senior Choir (Poor Wayfaring Stranger)
Champion School Folk Song Choir Or Calypso Chorale
El Do West Junior Calypso Chorale (Calypso Music)