Petal sings for good reasons

Thirteen years later, the 26-year-old finds herself in another unique situation. Petal can only benefit from her international scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology at Monroe College, New York if she can raise funds for airfare, boarding and books.

So, under the patronage of the Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams, Petal will stage her first classical concert at the auditorium of Presentation College, San Fernando on Saturday at 7.30 pm. (The concert will no longer be held at the Naparima Bowl as previously advertised due to renovation work being conducted there.)

"I decided to take it upon myself to ask Minister Joan Yuille-Williams for help and under the CARE programme, I was given a grant to take care of expenses (for the show)," Petal said.

Petal will share the stage with former choir friends Kees Dieffenthaller and Marlon Di Bique, along with Lyndon Laitan, Greg Warner and violinist Andre Donawa for a contemporary jazz/folk/gospel billing.

She is both anxious and nervous, but also in good faith that all will turn out in her favour.

Petal is classically trained under Genesis Chorale choir mistress Cynthia Lee Mack. Genesis Chorale, which is not just about singing but is part of a drama and music theatre, is the senior choir of Presentation Mixed. Petal joined Presentation Mixed at junior level in Form Four at ASJA Girls High School (San Fernando).

Her musical inclination was inspired primarily by her father who loved music. There were several singers on his side of the family. Her mother’s brother, Malcolm Brewster, is a musician. She was encouraged to learn to play the piano at age nine, "and I discontinued at age 12. That’s when my father died. But I remember being on stage at three years old because my grandmother had a church at her home in Barrackpore and I would always find myself on stage.

"But after my father died I filled the void with singing and drama. They were comforts to me. I thank my then form mistress Gloria Jaipersad for supporting me during that time."

Petal became active in UNESCO Clubs becoming Club Vice President. As a result, she was chosen to represent Trinidad and Tobago in a cultural exchange programme in Argentina.

"At 14 years, it was fantastic! I was accompanied by Sandy Gopaul (student) along with our teacher Caroline Sumadh. I sang folk and pop." She said it was not a practice of students at her school to sing for a mixed audience and believed that it was the "openness" of the UNESCO Clubs that contributed to Presentation Mixed’s invitation for students to join the choir. "The club allowed appreciation for the freedom of music."

With a "Best Original Poem" award in the Recitation category/UNESCO Clubs, Petal went on to play lead roles in five musicals. At the Music Festival, she struggled to place beyond second in soprano solo, Junior class and in 2002, she won "Best Operatic Female Aria."

In 2003, she took her singing talent to "Scouting for Talent" and later entered Best Village La Reine Rive competition. Although she placed second, in the latter, she won Best Costume and Best Interview.

After an injury to her left leg left her down and out for several months and has limited her involvement in some of her hobbies, Petal is picking up the pieces.

In 2004, she graduated with an Associate degree in IT from COSTAATT (College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago). She feels a measure of contentment, now, as her brother is abroad pursuing art and her sister, now married, cares for her mother.

Although she wants to pursue a career in IT, she said singing classical music "is my passion. When I finish my academics I plan to go to a music school."

For information on where tickets for the benefit concert can be obtained, contact 762-8003.