Poor turnout at Music Festival

JOHN BABB

IT WAS quite a poor turnout at Monday night’s session of the current Music Festival at Queen’s Hall. Apart from less than 300 patrons – the turnout of contestants also showed an upcoming pattern — out with the old, make room for the youths.

The Music Festival itself produced some vintage old contestants who while going down in age, still have vocals that are sounding very good. However, the tonal quality they tried to prolong, much to the liking of the old-timer patrons and the adjudicator, Dorothy Howden – a first-timer to Queens Hall, was but fleeting. The Veterans Solo class was won by Lioba Duncan who was awarded 89 marks for first place; second berth went to veteran Phillip Seesahai, who got 86 marks, while Charles Mendoza came third with 85 marks.

Among the Religious Music Choirs, USC Chorale, was awarded 90 marks to occupy first place; while second berth was filled by CT Singers with 89 marks and Moravian Voices, placed third with 88 marks. When it came to the ‘Test Piece’, In the Silence of the Night by Jamel Williams took first place with 87 marks; Kory Mendez placed second while Hayden Cornelius was third with 85 marks. Although there was a tie in Class 86 between APA Ladies Vocal Quartet and Lydians Ladies Quartet B, each with 84 marks, neither went to the finals.

There was quite a lengthy session yesterday when 69 students were listed to compete in Class 85 – Girls Vocal Duet 12 yrs and under. The Test Piece “One candle lights the way” by S.K. Albrecht and J. Although. There was no 9 am session yesterday, the girls having taken up all of the afternoon. Their finals will take place at 1.30 pm on Monday.

Much of yesterday afternoon was taken up with Primary and Secondary school choirs singing “Where do the stars go” by Sherri Porterfield. They were followed by folk singing by either boy or girl. This was followed by the Boys Treble Duet class.