Dunn Ross rules at Music Festival

“Show-singing” and instrumental performances marked the return of the 26th Biennial Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival to Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s yesterday, after a season’s absence. And judging from the enthusiasm of American adjudicator Dr Douglas Miller, he was up to the task before him, having spent the previous day at Maracas and Las Cuevas relaxing, sampling sumptuous bake and shark followed by a sea bath. Thursday’s programme started with Primary Folk Song Choirs, where 14 of the 21 chorales listed to appear actually did.

This popular class in the music festival generated the anticipated energy for which it is known and was a keenly contested affair between Mucurapo Girls’ RC, Sacred Heart Girls’ and Dunross Folk Choir. In the end it was the latter choir under the direction of Gemma Ramelize that got the adjudicator’s nod to secure a place in the championships. The 39-member choir delivered “Spanish Dance” and the ever popular “Evening Time,” as its repertoire. Miller said while these three groups were able to sing and execute, while maintaining the accuracy of the text, Dunross Folk Choir demonstrated maturity. Appearing in Class 46c School Band, Clement’s Music College was the lone contestant, but won the adjudicators recommendation of a place in the championships.

His only request, however, was that the next time he saw the quintet, they would have a more characteristic adaptation of the tune-of-choice “La Donna e’ mobile.” Justin Salloum and Michael Liou’s adaptation of the test piece “Le Jardin Feerique No 5,” by Maurice Ravel earned them top honours in Class 31 Piano Duet. Of the 15 entrants in this category only five took up position centre-stage. Miller said the challenge in this piece kept the tempo constant despite the long and quick notes that occurred.

The Results:
Class 21 — Primary Folk Song Choirs
1. Dunross Folk Choir: 90
2. Sacred Heart Girls RC: 88
3. Mucurapo Girls’ RC Choir: 85

Class 46c — School Band (No more than 15 players and combination of instruments excluding steel pan)
1.Clements Music College: 85

Class 31 — Piano Duet
12-15 years of age
1. Justin Salloum and Michael Liou: 86
2. Rozelle-Anne Polydore and Christon Grant: 84
3. Kneka Francis and Chryselle Browne: 82