Music Festival ends —

The coverage was seen as a beacon during what was noted as the bloodiest month of March which recorded 50 murders.

According to Richard Young, managing director of Scotiabank, one of the golden corporate sponsors of the festival, the coverage was thorough with photographs on the front and inside pages of the many young and adult performers.

Apart from the performers, praises were also sung for the volunteers, the festival staff, music teachers, parents, and all others who assisted in some way that made the festival an outstanding achievement.

Many of those who spoke urged the music Festival committee to keep the spirit of the event alive during the year by staging performances in the towns and rural areas. Like President Richards did on the opening night, of the festival.

The two adjudicators — Dr Olive Lewin of Jamaica, and Professor Bruce Trinkley — also spoke of the high level of performances by the youngsters and adults.

The festival committee was encouraged to aspire to have the festival acquire world class.

Professor Trinkley who was adjudicating at a local festival for the first time described the event as “an incredible experience” of his 44 years in music.

He referred to the performers as “stars of the festival, everyone of you is a winner.”

He also said he was most impressed with the music he heard.

Similar to his colleague, Dr Lewin, Professor Trinkley also called for more integration of the steelpan into the various categories of music.

Dr Pat Bishop and The Lydian Singers showed how well the integration could be achieved.

At the grand finale which won a standing ovation, The Lydians treated the packed audience to a Trini version of Handel’s ‘Halleluiah Chorus’ with the tassa drum and the steelpan — a very rhythmic tempo that brought the audience to their feet, and they in turn responded with a standing ovation. Although it was not the first time the Lydians had done this, but to the Queen’s Hall audience the music was overwhelming. The festival has three golden corporate sponsors in Scotiabank, bpTT, and TTEC.

The closing night’s programme saw some champions put on some top-class performances..

Professor Trinkley handed out the adjudicators’ awards, and they were presented to the following performers: Fifteen-year-old Feryal Qudourah was presented with The French (correct) trophy for being the festival’s most promising performer.

Germaine Wilson was adjudged most outstanding performer and was awarded The May Johnstone commemoration shield. The Abdullah trophy went to Da Capo Trio as the most improved performers.

The Jean Abdool Memorial trophy was presented to Vanessa Bushe as the most outstanding vocalist of the Festival..

Enitan Marcelle — the most outstanding instrumental performance — was presented with the Dennis Kerr trophy.

Junior Archer as the most outstanding tenor, received the Norman Philip Cup, while Music Amateurs of Tobago received the Lions trophy, being the most outstanding choir.

Keisha Baisden was presented The Clara Rose De Lima Cup, being the festival’s best wind/string instrumentalist, while The Lydian Singers got The Merchants’ cup for being the most outstanding adult choir, while the southern choir, Jeunes Agape was presented with the Olive Walke Memorial trophy for being the most outstanding folk song choir. In the sight reading category, the Robert Johnstone trophy went to Keisha Baisden, being adjudged tops in vocal sight reading — open, and M10 Instrumental Sight Reading (string, wind or steel pan — open).

The Lilian Fitzpatrick trophy went to Rosanne Polydore, being the winner of class 11 (piano sight reading — open), and The Arnold Chatoor trophy went to Vanessa Headley, being the winner of class 12 (original composition).