For lovers of classical and romance

The TTYP was formed last year when the St Augustine Chamber Orchestra (SACO) decided to partner with the Bon Air High School Music Foundation. Led by Leslie Clement of Glorious Sounds of Tobago and Pastor David Elder, the team has been working with several music schools across the country towards the formation of a truly twin island orchestra.

The undertaking is part of ongoing plans to offer the nation’s children an engaging, entertaining, and educational experience of various genres and styles of music including classical, pop, and local music in both string and symphonic repertoire.

The partnering of SACO, Bon Air High School Music Foundation, and the Church of God concert band in Tobago plans to offer help to the nation’s youths through the arts in an attempt in reducing juvenile delinquency.

According to TTYP chairman Andrew Listhrop, enrollment has increased from 144 to 200 students, aged five to 24, after just one year. The students are involved in playing strings, wind, brass, and percussion instruments.

“This increase has been due largely to the growth of the music programmes at the Bon Air High School, Five Rivers Secondary School, South East PoS Secondary School, St Dominic’s Children’s Home, Moulton Hall Methodist School, and the University School,” he said.

The Youth Philharmonic, which is perhaps the largest in the Caribbean, has been participating in a three week Monday-Friday workshop at the Bon Air High School. Participants are being tutored by a team of ten Venezuelan string specialists, and 11 local wind, brass, and percussion teachers, led by Kenneth Listhrop, (former music teacher of the International School of Port-of-Spain and the University School; Hemath Jahoor (of Fesnoj IV programme in Venezuela), and Clement (Music Teacher at Bon Air High School).

Founded and directed by noted music educator Kenneth at the University School in 1999, SACO has functioned as a feeder programme for the former National Youth Orchestra of TT. The orchestra’s members have been actively engaged year-round in classical, pop, and Christmas concerts. They have also accompanied foreign artistes such as renowned cellist Luis Leguia of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (2003), rap artiste Kanye West (2005), and have also been specially invited to perform at functions for corporate and private citizens. The string orchestra boasts of a dedicated group of some 60 young musicians, several of whom have been very successful at both the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music Examinations England, as well as at the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival. SACO has had two successful tours to St Lucia 2002, and Barbados 2003.

According to Andrew, “There is an increased awareness and interest in orchestral instruments among parents, students, and the society at large, in Trinidad and Tobago. Hence the need for well thought, well planned, and well executed programmes which will nurture and develop multiple symphony orchestras taking their places alongside the steelpan in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Since its launch in August 2006, the TTYP has been rehearsing weekly at the Bon Air High School in Arouca and the University School in St Augustine. Last year, the orchestra hosted its first pop/Christmas concert.

The SACO-TTYP, in partnership with the Heroes Foundation. will host an all Disney concert at Queen’s Hall in November.

Tickets are available at Bon Air High School.