...Coordinator promises larger event for 2019
The stage of the National Cultural Center was a hot-spot for keen musical rivalry as pupils and students from about 18 schools took on each other for top honors yesterday.
The occasion was the Ministry of Education, Unit of Allied Arts, ‘National Schools Festival of Choirs.
Some of the performers donned colorful robes while others settled for their school uniforms in most welcomed display of students engaged meaningfully in a competitive but celebratory atmosphere of positive vibes singing for trophies, certificates and gift vouchers.
The day of competitive vocal deliveries splashed with occasional theatrics featured participants singing contemporary, reggae, folk and national songs.
At the day’s end the winners row included The Bishops High School, South Ruimveldt and Supply Primary school.
The Bishops High School’s Choir trouncing Berbice High school from a field of eight entries.
The winning rendition of national songs was ‘Let us Cooperate (for Guyana)’ over the second-place finishers who dished their version of ‘My Guyana Eldorado’ in the secondary schools Choirs Category.
In the Primary schools’ solo category South Ruimveldt came out on top for their rendition of ‘My Guyana Eldorado over Smith’s Memorial’s rendition of Hymn for Guyana’s Children.
In the Primary Choir category which featured five schools the Supply Primary school ‘s rendition of ‘Song of Hope’ pipped Mahaicony Primary’s delivery of Hymn for Guyana’s Children for the top spot.
The event’s coordinator was Ms. Lorraine Barker-King while the emcee was Mr. Russel Lancaster.
Ms. Barker-King said the competition had its genesis in 2006 in format that lasted until 2009 before becoming part of the National Children’s Mashramani activities as Choir presentations. Recognizing Government’s sizable continued investment to reintroduce music in schools Ms. Barker-King said a decision was arrived at to make the music competition a standalone activity once again.
Barker-King said too that the ultimate objective is to have children from schools in all eleven educational districts compete as this is not just a Georgetown event. "This is the first time that this competition is being staged as a Schools’ Festival of Choirs with participation from Primary and Secondary School in three categories.”
Noting that beyond music for entertainment purposes, she posited that the thrust of the Ministry is to add music to the lives of children in the school system to contribute to making them more rounded individuals. she posited that, “Studies have shown that children who are involved in music actively perform exceedingly well academically because it teaches discipline and other benefits.
Looking ahead Ms. Barker-King said plans are in-train to raise the competitive bar for more participants in 2019 even as more consideration would be made for inclusion of other music genres.
