|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Photos show: Top left: Sydney Guillaume, Top right: Dexter Fernander, Bottom left: Garrad Rigby, Bottom right: Nathan Lightbourne and far right: Cleophas R.E. Adderley, Founder/Director The Bahamas National Youth Choir
|
The Bahamas National Youth Choir under the direction of Cleophas R.E. Adderley, Founder/Director, will present its Seventh Annual Concert of Music for Christmas on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at Trinity Methodist Church, Frederick Street and Trinity Place at 7:30p.m. The concert is under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency, Dame Marguerite Pindling, DCMG, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. There is no admission charge but a collection will be taken to help defray expenses. A number of talented new singers will make their debut at this performance.
The Bahamas National Youth Choir was established in 1983 under the direction of Mr. Adderley as a part of the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Bahamian independence. During March, 2015 it presented its 25th Annual Concert season at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts and in May celebrated twenty-five years of continuous existence with a church service at Christ Church Cathedral and in October an Exhibition of Photographs and Materials at The Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery. The singers are between the ages of 15 and 25 years and give of their time and talent without remuneration as a form of national service.
Over the years the choir has toured and given performances in twenty-five countries on four continents including The United States, Canada, Mexico, England, France, Germany, Finland, China, South Africa, and Swaziland. They have also sung in twenty-five languages including German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Hungarian, Italian and five African languages.
The singers have graced the stages of internationally acclaimed venues including the Concert Hall of The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York City), The Grand Hall of The Moscow Conservatory (Russia), Beijing Symphony Hall and The Poly Theatre (China), Oxford University Playhouse and The Barbican (England); and have rendered anthems and sung the responses at mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.
During the summer of 2015 the singers toured the Dominican Republic and performed with Maestro Darwin Aquino and the seventy plus member National Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic. The singers also toured The Republic of Haiti and were delighted and honoured to meet and perform on the same programme with internationally acclaimed Haitian composer Sydney Guillaume. The Bahamas National Youth Choir will perform Mr. Guillaume’s Dominus Vobiscum at this year’s Christmas Concert. Mr. Guillaume’s music is in great demand and has been performed on five continents. It is the first time that his music is being performed in The Bahamas. “This piece is quite challenging and is a wonderful synergy of the European music of the Roman Catholic Church and ever emerging African rhythms and Haitian Creole and culture” comments Mr. Adderley.
Also included on the programme is music from Handel’s Messiah featuring Guest Artist Garrad Rigby (tenor), and well known carols Sleigh Ride, Joy to the World, The First Noel; a gospel carol Pretty Little Baby arranged by James Cleveland/Rollo Dilworth; Nigerian carol “Betelehemu” and Bahamian carol “O Mary” written by Cleophas Adderley. There are also works by C.P.E. Bach, Phillip W.J. Stopford, John Alexander, and Heather Sorenson amongst others.
Mr. Nathan Lightbourn, the Choir’s 2nd Assistant Director will perform two piano solo works, Sonata Number 8 (Second Movement) by Ludwig Van Beethoven and Concert Etude No.1 by Nikolai Kapustin. The Choir’s Assistant Director, Mr. Dexter Fernander will be on the harpsichord and will assist Mr. Adderley with conducting. He is also responsible for rehearsing the Bahamas National Youth Choir Alumni who will make a special appearance as the Choir brings its twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations to a close. The Alumni will augment the choral forces on some of the larger works.
The director and members are grateful to Reverend William “Bill” Higgs and the Trustees of Trinity Methodist Church for their continual support of The Choir, the Government High School for the loan of handbells and to all others who have helped to make this performance possible. The concert should run for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, so please try not to be late.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
