Music Festival winners and Mozart at 250

The sixty-five strong chorus, conducted by Jessel Murray is the resident choral ensemble at the university and is celebrating its sixth year of innovative music making.

Comprised of present and former students of the Centre for Creative and Festival Arts (CCFA) of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine and community members, the chorale has been winning many friends with its varied repertoire and its professional approach to all of its performances.

It most recently hosted its first annual tea party cum fashion show and cabaret in March. In July 2005, the chorale produced its first full-length Broadway production: Crazy for You — a first for the university.

The National Sinfonia, also directed by Jessel Murray, has only been in existence for two years and already has accrued an impressive array of performances. Managed by the Orchestral Society of Trinidad and Tobago and comprised of players who are between 13 and 18 years-old, the group plays the finest age appropriate works of classical and light classical repertoires.

Most recently, the ensemble formed part of the opening night ceremonies for the Music Festival and received a prolonged ovation for its playing of orchestral works. The concerts will feature a varied set of works.

Prominently featured will be choral/orchestral works of Mozart in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth including the famous “Ave Verum Corpus” and “Regina Coeli” and will include other works by Brahms and Beethoven including the famous “Hallelujah” from the “Mount of Olives.” Music festival winners Mario Callender (winner of the Piano Recital Class and Oratorio); Vanessa Marcus (winner of the Open Piano Solo); and Sophia Brathwaite (winner of the Gospel Solo) will join many other winners including guests artistes the Bishop Anstey Choir (in the North) and St Joseph’s Convent Choir from San Fernando.

Tickets are priced at $100 for the concert which comes off at the Central Bank auditorium at 7 pm on April 30.