Sweet folk songs as Music Festival touches down in Tobago

The sweetness of folk music rang through the Signal Hill Secondary School, Signal Hill on Wednesday as the 33rd Biennial Music Festival continued. The proceedings began shortly after 10am with the musical theatre solo category.

In this category, only four of the six schools scheduled to perform were present. Getting the judges' nod for victory was Nadira Shanghie who earned 90 points for her rendition of The Sound of Music. Tied for second spot were Scarborough Secondary School’s Osaze George with 86 points, singing Never Enough, and Bishop’s High School Klavier Simpson who sang In My Open Little Corner.

This category made way for the age 15 and under Primary School Folk Song Choir with Scarborough Methodist Primary adjudged winner out of 23 competitors. The choir was dominated by girls in yellow tops and floral skirts with matching floral head-ties and pink bands around their waist. The boys in the choir, though outnumbered, provided a powerful blend to the voices to bring energy to the performance.

The team won the hearts of those in attendance with their very dramatic performance of Wake-up Johnny, raising the roof with their singing. In their five-minute presentation, they made several attempts to wake up a slumbering "Johnny" who was dressed in a yellow t-shirt and black shorts. The group received a standing ovation and roars of approval after their performance.

Mason Hall Primary School secured the second spot after their very strong voices belted out Bring Back Mih Coverlet. Whim Anglican settled for the third spot.

Six schools later competed in the Secondary School folk category for 21 years and under and eight schools in the junior calypso chorale for 21 years and under. The festival continues until March 28.