Auditions for String Festival

Those performing in the festival will be selected from auditions in the various instrumental categories at the Bowl on April 19 and 20. Auditions begin at 9 am and end at 4 pm.

The National String Festival, a venture by the Court Street Chamber Orchestra, is held biannually as to encourage string instrumentalists to showcase their talent and encourage each other in friendly competition.

Court Street Chamber Orchestra is a non-profit organisation that has been helping youths and adults learn instrumental music since 1992.

Adjudicators are LaToya Patterson, music educator in Charleston, South Carolina USA, herself a former member of the Court Street Chamber Orchestra and also a graduate of Berkeley College of Music; and John Wineglass, an Emmy Award composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and educator.

Wineglass will perform at the Winners’ Concert.

Among those registered to compete are representatives from the following music schools or ensembles:- Court Street Chamber Orchestra, San Fernando Zimrah Music Academy, Gasparillo Seraphic Strings, Chaguanas Gospel Strings, San Fernando TT YP (Trinidad & Tobago Youth Philharmonic Orchestra), St Augustine Gloria Barry Music School, Couva Martinez School of Music, D’Abadie, Naparima Girls’ High School String Orchestra, San Fernando; Holistic School, St Anne’s, UTT (University of Trinidad and Tobago), Port-of- Spain Pat Joseph Music School, Mt Lambert; Anthony Walter’s Music School, San Fernando; and Rebecca’s House of Musical Arts, San Fernando.

Several other soloists, duos, trios, quartets and large ensembles have registered to compete in this year’s festival.

Auditions to the preliminaries are free but admission to the Winners’ Concert is $150. Tickets are available from the Court Street Chamber Orchestra at 25 Court Street, San Fernando and at the venue on the day of the event. For more info: 492-8407.