The Inaugural Scholastic Music Festival - Evening of Excellence, which took place on June 10th, at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex in Providenciales has been hailed by the Ministry of Education as a smashing success.
Packed with electrifying performances from 20 schools hailing from South Caicos, Grand Turk, and Providenciales, the event saw scintillating performances from the various schools.
The students were a force to be reckoned with as they showcased their talents in various genres, from Gospel, Pop, Reggae, Soca, R&B, and Instrumentals, to the unique sounds of Rip Saw and Maskanoo. Each student was a star of the night with nothing less than an outstanding performance, leaving the audience begging for more.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel Taylor, kicked off the festivities with a rousing speech, announcing that next year’s competition would include Speech, Dance, and Drama categories. The festival will also feature a marching band and a national school choir.
Also in attendance was Hon. Jamell Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure, the Permanent Secretary of Education, Mrs. Cheryl Ann Jones, Deputy Secretaries Mr. Amin McCartney and Ms. Keisha Taylor, and Acting Commissioner of Police Mr. Rodney Adams.
The Scholastic Music Festival aims to inspire, nurture and develop new and existing talents within the school community. The event is geared to equip students with the skills needed to perform adequately in CXC music exams in solo and ensemble settings, and to compose and arrange songs.
Above all, the festival serves as a vibrant expression of the spirit of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ people and provides young artists with a platform to shine.
The Evening of Excellence showcased all of the winning pieces from the elimination rounds at the individual schools.
Below is a table highlighting the medal assignments, the scores, and the items each school performs.
The Ministry of Education says it extends deepest gratitude to all principals, teachers, parents, and stakeholders whose unwavering support converted the Music Festival from an idea to an incredible success.
“Thanks to Pastor Wilbert Jennings, Mr. Chris Stokes, and Mr. Jason Lockheart for the partnership. To all other supporters, we say thanks for your contributions. We acknowledge the tireless work and commitment of our Music Teachers and all who were instrumental in preparing our students.
“To our Music teachers, Mr. Johannes Hamilton and Mr. Jermaine Reid, we thank you for meticulously fine-tuning every detail from the project’s inception and setting the stage for an unforgettable night of music and celebration.
“Thank you to everyone who made our first annual Scholastic Music Festival a success. We are grateful for your unwavering support and cooperation and look forward to continued collaboration as we reach higher heights next year,” a news release from the Ministry of Education said.