Bishop’s wins Prime Minister’s Trophy

BISHOP ANSTEY High School, under the direction of music teacher Lorraine Granderson, has won the prestigious Prime Minister’s Trophy, at the 26th Biennial Tri-nidad and Tobago Music Festival for the Most Outstanding Overall Junior Choir. This is the third consecutive festival at which the choir won the trophy. The presentation of the Prime Minister’s Trophy was the highpoint of the Music Festival’s Junior Finale, at which the festival’s youngest competitors took their final bow.

Commenting on the choir’s music achievement, Granderson said: “Music is a rich part of Bishop Anstey High School’s tradition. Most women of music in Trinidad and Tobago today were students of the school. We have Pat Bishop, Esther Batson and Joslynne Sealey. “We worked hard, like all the other schools. At Bishop’s we have a standard and the girls sing well. They try to enjoy what they do, despite having to battle with, extra lessons and exams.” Bishop’s had to beat back a strong challenge from Fatima College to win the title. However, Fatima did not go away empty handed since they secured the Joyce Spence Trophy for the Most Outstanding School Choir, while Naparima College head boy, Mario Callender, 18, won the Myers Family Shield (Junior). Callender said the award was a tribute to his teachers, friends and family. The La Petite Musicale Shield went to Tobago’s Roxborough Compre-hensive School Junior Folk Song Choir. Belle Garden AC School Choir, winner of Class 14 — Primary School Choirs 8-11 years, clinched the Seigert Cup.

The Trinidad Music Association Anniversary Cup was won by Mansergh Kareem Griffith for his piano solo in class 29, while the Dr Evans Memorial Cup, went to tuba soloist David Elder of Tobago. A mix of girls and boys duets competed for the May Johnstone Cup. In the end, that award went to Mario Callender and Reinold Goetz. Several choirs vied for the Judge Russell Cup, but Fatima College won this prize. A nonmusical yet profound moment at the event came when Canadian Professor Melvin James Husrt said: “The fact that children can make beautiful music is less significant that the fact that music can make beautiful children.” The San Fernando-based Golden Hands made a guest performance on the programme with  Offenbach’s “Can Can,” under the direction of  Franka Hills Headley.